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Cancer Research at a Lab Dedicated to A Finding Cure

Brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer in children. With more than 120 types of brain tumors, finding a cure for each can be challenging. Every cancer is unique and adapts to a child’s individual genetic makeup differently. That’s why studying tumor tissue is more important than ever to help children battling this type of illness.

The Neuro-Oncology Translational Lab at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children conducts advanced research studies to better understand why brain tumors form, how they grow and ways in which they can be treated. By growing cell lines from cancerous tissues right here in our lab in Central Florida, we are able to watch these tumors grow and change in real time. This allows us to test the effectiveness of different treatments to find cures and prolong the life of children diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Through our research, we strive to develop personalized medicine with treatments tailored to the individual child and their predicted response to a tumor type.

Driving Research Excellence

The Neuro-Oncology Translational Lab at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer continues to demonstrate excellence. As leaders in childhood cancer research, we offer children the most advanced treatment options available. Consider our strengths:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you grow cell lines in the lab?

Our process has a few steps. First, we extract cells from tumor tissue. Then, we create a body-like environment in an incubator in the lab. Next, cells are placed in the incubator and grown at body temperature with a gas exchange. We then watch the cells to see how they develop and change.

Can I donate my child’s tissue to support brain tumor research?

Yes. The Neuro-Oncology Translational Lab at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer will collect and carefully process cancerous tissue samples recovered from biopsy, surgery or autopsy at the end of life. The procedure is performed right here at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital in Central Florida.

When can my child donate tissue?

Most tissue samples are collected through surgery or autopsy at end of life. In some cases, cancerous tissue samples can be removed through biopsy and studied while your child is undergoing chemo or radiation treatment.

Will research change my child’s treatment plan?

If we are able to biopsy your child’s tumor at diagnosis or during treatment, we can study how the tumor survives and build a comprehensive story about the makeup of your child’s specific cancer. This type of ongoing research will not result in immediate benefit to your child’s current treatment plan, but it provides benefits for future patients. It can also lead to new treatments based on the research findings.

How else can I support pediatric cancer research?

Thank you for your support. If you wish to make a monetary donation to the Neuro-Oncology Translational Lab to drive cancer research, please click here.

Contact Us

For more information on the Neuro-Oncology Translational Lab, please contact us at [email protected].