Children's Hospital Los Angeles Oncologist Receives $50,000 Hyundai Scholar Award

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Article Date: 07 Jul 2010 - 5:00 PDT

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Representatives from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and childhood cancer patients will together take part in the Hope on Wheels (TM) Handprint Ceremony. They will dip their hands in fingerpaint and apply colorful handprints to a white Hyundai Santa Fe. The car, which is covered in children's handprints from all over the country, is the symbol of Hyundai Hope on Wheels (TM).

The current 80 percent overall cure rate means that in the general population of young adults, 1 in 500 will be a survivor of childhood cancer. Unfortunately, many of these survivors will suffer long-term effects related to their cancer therapy. Chronic illnesses and decreased life expectancies result from damage to their brains, lungs, hearts or kidneys in addition to their increased risk of secondary cancers. One of the more harmful but effective cancer therapies is radiation. Differing from surgery and most types of chemotherapy where damage sustained is immediate, the effects of radiation are progressive and lifelong.

When part of the body is irradiated, the immune system immediately responds by trying to repair the tissue and DNA. Yet when the injury is repaired, the wound-healing mechanism fails to turn off. This unregulated process results in organ damage and other negative health effects. Dr Brown will work to unravel the mechanisms of this injury in order to halt it. The research funded by this grant will allow him to develop models for investigating the role of the immune system while also providing an opportunity for him to study the effects of radiation on patients.

Hope on Wheels(TM) is the united effort of all 780 Hyundai dealers across the US to raise awareness about childhood cancer and celebrate the lives of children battling the disease. Hyundai Motor America is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea.

Source:
Ellin Kavanagh
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

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