Tanner Ziarek was two years old when he was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma—one of the most aggressive childhood cancers. His treatment was intensive, including chemotherapy, major abdominal surgery, two bone marrow transplants, radiation, and immunotherapy. Today, four-year-old Tanner is growing stronger every day thanks in part to a groundbreaking clinical trial led by researchers at Children’s Wisconsin.
Tanner is one of ten patients enrolled in a phase 3 study led locally by Angela Steineck, MD, pediatric oncologist at CW and member of the MCW Cancer Center. Supported by the MACC Fund, the National Cancer Institute-sponsored trial tests whether early use of the immunotherapy drug dinutuximab can improve outcomes for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, a cancer with a five-year survival rate of just 50%. The drug targets the GD2 protein found on neuroblastoma cells, helping the immune system identify and destroy them.
“Clinical trials are how we push the science forward. They give us the opportunity to learn, improve treatment, and give kids the best possible chance at life after cancer,” said Angela Steineck, MD.
Dr. Steineck’s research is part of a broader mission at the MCW Cancer Center to ensure that surviving cancer isn’t the end of the journey but the beginning of a healthier future.
As survival rates continue to rise across the U.S., the next frontier in care is clear: helping people live well after cancer. At the MCW Cancer Center, that means taking a comprehensive approach to survivorship, one that addresses the full spectrum of needs patients face beyond treatment. In the years ahead, the Center is committed to building robust programs that support physical recovery, mental health, nutrition, education, and long-term wellness.
“Surviving cancer is no longer the finish line but the start of a new chapter. We’re building a future where every survivor has access to the resources they need to heal fully, stay healthy, and live well for years to come,” said Melinda Stolley, PhD, associate director of population science and co-leader of the Center’s Cancer Control program.
With ongoing support from the MACC Fund, Children’s Wisconsin and the MCW Cancer Center continue to lead nationally in pediatric cancer research, ensuring that children and families in Wisconsin have access to the latest, most promising therapies close to home.
“The MACC Fund is really crucial in helping me do the work that I want to do and need to do to feel like I am making the science move forward,” said Dr. Steineck. “It really is a mission and a vision—to try to cure cancer and make sure that kids are living the healthiest and best lives they can.”