Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology

Head of the Centre: Ass. Prof. Jelena Rascon, M.D., Ph.D.
Tel: + 370 5 232 8703
E-mail: jelena.rascon@santa.lt

About the Centre

Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (CPOH) is the biggest paediatric oncology and haematology centre in Lithuania and the Baltic region. It was established in 1981 as a department of Pediatric Hematology. Initially pediatric cancer care was limited to childhood leukemias. Since 1994 childhood solid tumors have been treated as well. Currently children with all types of pediatric cancers, rare non-malignant blood disorders, severe immune deficiencies and selected metabolic diseases are treated.

In February of 2002, the Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant program was launched. More than 220 bone marrow transplants (autologous and allogeneic, including transplantations from unrelated donors) have been performed.

Over the last three decades a tremendous progress was achieved in treatment outcome – overall survival of children treated for cancer increased from almost zero to 80 percent (Fig.?? „Overall survival“). This is in range with the best achievable cure rate in other European countires. The rise in cure rate was a result of close collaboraiton of a multidisciplinary team of pediatric oncologists and hematologists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, radiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists etc. All basic and advanced diagnostic (imaging, radiology guided biopsy, pathology, molecular diagnostics) and therapeutic (multimodal chemotherapy, immune therapy, specialised paediatric surgery, radiotherapy, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cell therapy, cryopreservation of reproductive tissues to preserve fertility) are in place to ensure the high quality of care.

Since 2017 CPOH has become a member of the European reference network (ERN) in of Paediatric Cancer (ERN PaedCan, http://paedcan.ern-net.eu), Paediatric Transplantation (ERN TransplantChild, www.transplantchild.com) and Rare Blood Disorders (ERN EuroBloodNet, www.eurobloodnet.eu), demonstrating high quality of patient care and offering diagnostic and treatment facilities to children affected with cancer in the Baltic region and adjacent countries.

Digital solutions enables virtual review of images, pathology slides and video-consultations. CPOH provides paediatric haematopoietic stem cell transplantation services and cell therapies for Lithuanian children and foreign citizens. Replacement therapy with recombinant coagulation factors and enzyme replacement therapy for metabolic disorders (Gaucher disease, mucopolysacchridosis typr VI) are available. The families are offered immune therapy including check-point inhibitors and dendritic cell vaccination. All children with a newly diagnosed haemophilia are enrolled in prospective clinical trial exploring efficacy of recombinant factors in children in a regular prophylaxis. The quality of patient care was recogneized by the international professional community – in 2015 CPOH was recognized as European Haemophilia Comprehensive Centre (successfully reaccredite in 2018).

At the moment 16 biomedical research projects (including international academia-driven clinical trials, industry-sponsored phase III clinical trials and fundamental studies) have been running at CPOH. Active rectuitment of patients into academic clinical trials (acute lymphoblastic leukemia NOPHO ALL 2008, Ewing sarcom EWING2008, low and intermediate neuroblastoma LINES) resulted in improved survival. The high scientific activity is related to the close collaboration with the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology such as attendance and organization of educational events, active participation in working groups, partitipation in common clinical trials. The research and networking activities are being expanded using collaborative platforms provided by the ERNs.

Staff

Head of the Center for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology ass. prof. Jelena Rascon, jelena.rascon@santa.lt

Center administrator Rasa Vaiciuniene

Project coordinator Rasa Austrotiene

Head of The Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Sigita Stankeviciene
Senior physicians: dr. Grazina Kleinotiene (specialist in metabolic disorders)

Paediatric oncologists and haematologists: Indre Tamuliene, Sonata Saulyte-Trakymiene, Vilma Rutkauskaite, Igne Kairiene, Rolanda Nemaniene (specialist in transfusiology), Natalija Sestel (out-patient clinic)

Coordinating nurse: Dale Malinauskiene

Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit:

Senior physician: Goda Vaitkeviciene

Transplant team: pediatric oncologists Ramune Pasauliene, Audrone Muleviciene

Data manager: Rasa Vaiciuniene

Chief nurse: Bozena Mackevic

European Haemophilia Comprehensive Centre

Paediatric oncologist and haematologist specialist in hemostasis dr. Sonata Saulyte-Trakymiene (head), Rolanda Nemaniene

Research and coordinatiin nurse Ana Urbanoviciene

Contact for patients and families jelena.rascon@santa.lt, vaikuligonine@santa.lt