To progress on knowledge and treatments, 2 types of research are carried out jointly:
- The so-called “basic” research, carried out in laboratory on samples, cells or animal models. Its objective is to better understand the biology of cells and better understand the mechanisms of leukemic transformation. It enables to identify new therapeutic targets, in particular through the use of pre-clinical experimental models.
- The so-called “clinical” research, carried out on patient, most often consists in collecting data regarding the patient, his/her disease and the response to treatment. It allows the development of new treatments or new therapeutic combinations, through clinical trials. For more information on clinical research, see the brochure “My child’s participation in clinical cancer research” (in FR).
These two types of research are essential and inseparable. They foster“translational” research, at the border between these two approaches. Translational research allows, for example, to identify prognostic or therapeutic biological markers, which better guide physicians to in the treatment of patients.
Research in pediatric acute myeloid leukemias thus allows to better understand the disease, to better integrate the risk of each disease to choose the best treatment, to consider new treatments for refractory diseases and thus, to reduce the relapse risk, improve the healing rateand improve the patients quality of life.