Cancer in children is one of the most devastating challenges a family can face. The diagnosis alone sets in motion a cycle of fear, aggressive treatments, and often painful interventions. But in the midst of this struggle, science is making meaningful strides – not only in improving outcomes, but in lessening the physical and emotional burden on young patients and their families.
One such breakthrough is the liquid biopsy, a cutting-edge blood test that detects genetic traces of tumours, potentially eliminating the need for invasive surgical biopsies. For children undergoing treatment for cancer, this could be life-changing.
The science behind the breakthrough
Leading this pioneering research is Dr Mark Fleming, a paediatric haematologist and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. His team is working to adapt liquid biopsy technology to the unique genetic profiles of paediatric cancers – and the results, he tells Politis, are “highly encouraging”, with clinical trials just around the corner.
So what exactly is a liquid biopsy?
“This is a technique that analyses tiny genetic fragments from tumours which circulate in the patient’s bloodstream,” explains Dr Fleming. “With recent advances, we’re now able to detect those tumour DNA fragments and tailor this technology to match the specific genetic markers of childhood cancers.”
Until now, monitoring whether a child’s treatment is working often required invasive biopsies or imaging scans – tools that can be limited in accuracy and distressing for young patients. But with a simple blood test, Dr Fleming says, “we can now detect whether the treatment is working or not, allowing doctors to adjust treatment plans early and specifically for each child.”
This, he adds, translates into less pain, less stress, and more personalised care.
A lifeline for families
Beyond the physical toll, paediatric cancer is a deep psychological struggle. Families often live in constant uncertainty: Is the treatment working? Are we winning this battle?
That uncertainty can be as emotionally exhausting as the disease itself.
“Patients and their families face immense challenges, particularly the waiting and not knowing,” says Dr Fleming. “With liquid biopsy, we aim to give them earlier answers – and possibly better treatment alternatives when things aren’t going as hoped.”
For children, every moment without medical procedures is a moment reclaimed for childhood – for play, school, family life. Liquid biopsy could shift the entire rhythm of treatment.
“When therapies can be quickly adapted based on the results of a simple blood test, the child’s everyday life can change dramatically,” Dr Fleming says. “It’s a step towards making the lab work for the child, not the other way around.”
From Cyprus to Boston: Building a bridge of hope
Given the rarity of childhood cancers, international cooperation is crucial – and Cyprus is stepping up through the work of the Nicholas Zoe Foundation, founded in memory of Nikolas Artemiou, a young boy who passed away from cancer in 2023, aged just nine.
His mother, Alexia Potamitou, turned her personal tragedy into a mission for life. The foundation now supports research like Dr Fleming’s and has established a close partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital. This connection allows children from Cyprus – and the broader region – access to innovative diagnostics and second opinions from one of the world’s leading paediatric hospitals.
Dr George Astras, oncologist and board member of the foundation, tells Politis that this bridge between Boston and Cyprus is already changing lives. “With the start of our collaboration, we’ve begun building a bridge that will benefit many children fighting cancer,” he says.
Dr Astras knows the pain of this journey personally, having lost both close relatives and a best friend to cancer at the age of 18. His lived experience fuels his commitment to ensuring no family has to face this alone.