Pediatric Cancer

Excellence in childhood cancer care

Childhood cancers are different from adult cancers and require specialized treatment from doctors who care exclusively for young people. Our pediatric cancer specialists have deep expertise in diagnosing and treating specific childhood cancers, including brain, liver and blood cancers.

We care for children with newly diagnosed cancers, as well as those with relapsed and refractory (treatment-resistant) diseases. Medical, surgical and radiation oncologists work alongside pathologists, radiologists and other experts to design treatment tailored to each child.

Advanced testing for precise diagnoses

Cancer treatment is never one-size-fits-all. At UCSF, we use the most sophisticated diagnostic tools available to understand the unique biology of every type of cancer.

Every child receives the UCSF500 Cancer Gene Panel, which analyzes genetic changes (mutations) that drive cancer. This advanced test, only available at UCSF, can identify genetic changes other tests may miss. In fact, many patients are referred to UCSF specifically for UCSF500 testing. It enables us to confirm or refine a diagnosis, which is particularly important for rare or complex cancers.

We also perform testing to predict how a child may respond to certain medications, such as chemotherapy. Our findings help us select the most effective drugs and doses, so we achieve the best possible outcomes with the fewest side effects.

Innovative therapies tailored to every child

Our specialists offer personalized, precise care using some of the most promising new cancer treatments available today. Our expertise in immunotherapy (treatments that harness the body's immune system to fight cancer) is widely recognized.

For children with cancer that hasn't responded to other treatments, immunotherapies can offer additional options with fewer side effects. We're among a select group of centers in the U.S. offering these advanced therapies, such as CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We also perform first-in-kind clinical trials of new cellular therapies based on discoveries made by UCSF scientists.

We provide advanced bone marrow transplant therapies for children with leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases. Our transplant specialists make each child's treatment as safe and effective as possible using precise donor matching and personalized treatment planning. At UCSF, our bone marrow transplant survival rates are among the highest in the nation.

We also excel in caring for children with brain tumors. Our capabilities include 3D surgical neuronavigation, Gamma Knife radiosurgery and enhanced drug delivery techniques to precisely target tumors. UCSF clinicians founded and lead the international Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), an organization dedicated to improving outcomes for children with brain cancers.

Helping kids feel their best

At UCSF, healing goes beyond advanced medical treatments. The Stad Center for Pediatric Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine is one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind in the U.S. From reducing pain from needles to easing treatment side effects, we provide unique services to improve comfort and relieve stress.

We also offer a robust survivorship program for children, adolescents and adults who have completed cancer treatment. Our services help patients and families manage the long-term physical and emotional effects of cancer. Patients also receive personalized screening recommendations to reduce their future cancer risk.