Childhood Cancer Research Highlights

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is deeply committed to finding new answers that will help every child and family affected by cancer. Here are lay-friendly highlights about some of our recent studies.

Childhood Cancer Continues to Increase

Cancer is the second most common cause of death among children ages 1 to 14. Accidents are the most common cause. The cancer incidence rate for children has been increasing slightly since the mid-1970s, with the trends varying by cancer type. However, cancer death rates in children have declined 71% since 1970. These reductions are largely due to improvements in treatment and more children taking part in clinical trials.

Financial Hardship Persists for Decades After Childhood Cancer

Research shows that adult survivors of childhood cancer have more medical financial hardship than siblings.

Children deserve to have the futures they've dreamed of. 

sisters

Photo credit: Olla Danilevich

Statistics on Childhood Cancer in Children (Birth to Age 14)

#1

Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer. 

#2

Brain or other tumors in the nervous system are the second-most common cancer in children.

Risk & Prevention Studies

Seeking Out the Cause of a Rare, Aggressive Childhood Leukemia

Researchers’ evaluation of data from 5,000+ children with cancer may open new avenues for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of AML.
New Findings About the Genetic Risks of Childhood Cancer

A large study of childhood cancer long-term survivors found new variants of cancer-susceptibility genes that could inform and improve genetic counseling.

Statistics on Childhood Cancer in Children (Ages 15-19)

#1

Brain or other tumors in the nervous system are the most common cancer in adolescents.

#2

Lymphoma is in the second-most common cancer in adolescents.

Treatment & Reducing Metastasis Studies

Update on New Treatment for Children with Neuroblastoma

Research in the lab and in mice finds drugs aimed at a new molecular target may reduce the risk of relapse of certain deadly brain cancers in children.
Early Research Offers Hope for Better Medulloblastoma Drugs

Research in the lab and in mice finds drugs aimed at a new molecular target may reduce the risk of relapse of certain deadly brain cancers in children.

Survivorship Studies

Financial Hardship Persists for Decades After Childhood Cancer

Research shows that adult survivors of childhood cancer have more medical financial hardship than siblings.
Longer Life Expectancy for Childhood Cancer Survivors

Study shows childhood cancer survivors can likely expect to have a longer life expectancy due to improvements in treatment over a 30-year period.

More Childhood Cancer Research Stories

Childhood Cancer News

Adolescent Cancer News

ACS Statistics Reports  

Helpful Resources

We Fund Cancer Researchers Across the US

The ACS funds scientists who conduct research about childhood cancer at medical schools, universities, research institutes, and hospitals throughout the United States. We use a rigorous and independent peer review process to select the most innovative research projects proposals to fund.

These grant statistics are as of October 17, 2025.

84

childhood cancer research grants

$49M

funding for childhood cancer research

See More Research Funding Statistics