Please Help us Reach our Initial Goal of $100,000

The Avery Fund was established in memory of Avery, an 8-year-old girl who lost her life to a brain tumor known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). A cancer diagnosis that impacts 200-400 kids in the U.S. each year and currently has a zero percent survival rate. In honor of Avery, we have established a collaborative partnership with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to provide specific funding for a groundbreaking pediatric brain tumor trial (ACTION) at the University of Florida.

No matter how small or large, you are making an impact and we thank you in advance for your support.

STUDY SYNOPSIS:

ACTION is an innovative immunotherapy trial for the treatment of high-grade gliomas (HGG) in children. Pediatric brain tumors like HGG are now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children in the United States due to the advances in the treatment of more common hematologic malignancies. Current treatments such as surgical removal of the tumor, radiation, and chemotherapy can cure many patients with other types of brain tumors; however, the prognosis for children with high-grade gliomas (HGGs) remains poor.

It is believed that the body’s immune system protects the by attacking and killing tumor cells. Tlymphocytes (T-cells) are part of the immune system and can attack when they recognize special proteins on the surface of tumors. But in most patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs), T-cells are not stimulated enough to kill the tumor. In this trial, the patient’s tumor will be used to make a vaccine which will hopefully stimulate the T-cells to kill the tumor cells, while leaving the normal cells alone.