R&D offer: Oncopediatrics

The SIREDO Oncology Center is the first center in France entirely dedicated to cancers in patients under the age of 25. It aims to intensify research and provide the best possible care to treat childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers.

Although cancer mortality rates in children, adolescents and young adults have fallen by almost 70% over the past four decades, cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease in children. As a recognized expert in the treatment and research of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers, in 2017 Institut Curie created a specific dedicated oncology center: SIREDO ("Soin Innovation Recherche en oncologie de l'Enfant, aDOlescent et de l'adulte jeune", ). A pioneer in France, this center treats all pediatric solid tumors - including lymphomas - in patients under the age of 25 (and from birth).

SIREDO: curing more children with cancer

At SIREDO, the continuum research – care represent a unique opportunity to answer the critical unmet medical needs: understanding the tumor biology and plasticity and defining new diagnostic, prognostic and theranostic markers as well as new therapeutic approaches in order to cure more children with less sequels. It has 4 main activities:

• Care and clinical research
• Fondamental and translational research
• Transversal programs
• Biological resources

Clinical care and research

At the clinical level, SIREDO cares for almost 300 new patients every year. SIREDO members work closely with radiologists, ophthalmologists and pathologists at Institut Curie to offer children and young adults the best care options.
Institut Curie is also the 2nd European center for patient recruitment, enrolling 180-200 patients in clinical trials every year. The center is particularly involved in clinical research projects and ancillary studies based on molecular and immunological profiling.

Basic and translational research

SIREDO enjoys a strong reputation and scientific and medical support at both national and international levels. Research teams at Institut Curie have made decisive discoveries and advances in the field of pediatric oncology. Researchers have discovered the EWSR1-FLI1 gene fusion in Ewing's sarcoma, SMARCB1 mutations in malignant rhabdoid tumors, ALK mutations in neuroblastoma and, more recently, the BCOR-CCNB3 fusion and SMARCA4 mutations in certain Ewing's and thoracic sarcomas, respectively. Institut Curie scientists have also been very proactive in exploring the clinical applications of their discoveries.
Research is focused on four pathologies: neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdoid tumors and sarcomas (particularly Ewing).

Cross-functional programs

At SIREDO, cross-functional programs play a central role. One of the main cross-functional programs developed is the pediatric precision medicine program.

The national MICCHADO program

Coordinated by Institut Curie, involves the molecular and immunological characterization of high-risk childhood cancers at the time of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. The aim is to better understand and characterize resistance to treatment in certain childhood cancers.
In 2024, almost 600 patients will be included in this study, constituting a unique cohort on an international scale.

The national MAPPYACTS project (Gustave Roussy, Institut Curie)

The national MAPPYACTS project (Gustave Roussy, Institut Curie) offers in-depth genetic analysis of refractory or relapsing childhood cancers to identify molecular targets and move towards targeted therapies.

Biological resources

In recent years, Institut Curie teams have developed animal models relevant to pediatric tumor research in immunocompetent or immunodeficient settings. There is a wide range of PDX mouse models and cell lines for the pediatric tumors studied by Institut Curie research teams: neuroblastoma, rhabdoid tumors, retinoblastoma, medulloblastoma and Ewing's sarcoma, as well as for a variety of sarcomas.
The use of these models enables preclinical evaluation of potential therapies, an essential step towards bringing a drug into the clinic.