Overview

With contemporary chemotherapy, the overall survival rate for childhood cancer is increasing with current 5-year survival rates >85%; however, survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for morbidity and early mortality due to late effects of their treatment. Our group’s goal is to improve the overall health and quality of life of pediatric cancer survivors through early detection and treatment of late effects. One of the main areas of focus is how to improve lifestyle behaviors in survivors. It is well-known that a healthy lifestyle can decrease the risk of late effects; however, survivors do not meet national guidelines for diet, exercise, or sleep.

  • Improving Health-Promoting Behaviors in Adolescent Cancer Survivors using AWAIT (a hope-based mobile app)
  • Establishing a Cardio-Oncology Score to Improve Cardiology Care in Survivors
  • State of Survivor Care within the COG
  • Improving Support for Survivors Engaged in Transition (IS SET)
  • Developing a Wellness Intervention for Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors 
  • Evaluation of Vestibular Dysfunction in Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Treated with Platinum-Based Chemotherapies

Sanyukta Janardan, MD

Education: Emory University Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow, 2019-2022

Current Project: A pre-pilot study of the feasibility and acceptability of a targeted health education intervention in childhood cancer survivors at high risk for therapy-related adverse cardiovascular events

Aaron Wallace, MD, 2019-2020, Emory University Medical Student

Current position: Pediatric Resident, Maine Medical Center

Kirsten Rose-Felker, MD, 2016-2018, Pediatric Cardiology Fellow

Current position: Faculty, University of Pittsburgh

Zachary Owens, MPH, 2016-2017, Rollins School of Public Health MPH Student

Current position: Medical Student, Georgia Campus- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Ashley Eason, MD, 2017-2019, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow

Current position: Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Memorial Health University, Savannah, Georgia

Emily Silverman, 2018-2019, Emory University Undergraduate

Current position: Clinical Research Associate, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

  • Vice-chair, American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program Committee
  • Section Leader, Children’s Oncology Group Long-term Follow-up Guidelines Oral/Dental/Gastrointestinal/Hepatic and Urinary Tract Task Forces
  • Co-chair, International Guideline Harmonization Group for Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Hepatotoxicity Group
  • Institutional Principal Investigator, Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Williamson Lewis R, Effinger KE, Wasilewski-Masker K, Mertens A, Xiao C.  Self-reported late effect symptom clusters among young pediatric cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Dec;29(12):8077-8087. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06332-4. Epub 2021 Jul 6. PMID: 34228172

 

Bardi E, Mulder RL, van Dalen EC, Bhatt NS, Ruble KA, Burgis J, Castellino SM, Constine LS, den Hoed CM, Green DM, Koot BGP, Levitt G, Szonyi L, Wallace WH, Skinner R, Hudson MM, Kremer LCM, Effinger KE, Bresters D. Late hepatic toxicity surveillance for survivors of childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer: Recommendations from the international late effects of childhood cancer guideline harmonization group. Cancer Treat Rev. 2021 Nov;100:102296. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2021.102296. Epub 2021 Sep 20. PMID: 34571378

 

Janardan S, Effinger, KE. Long-Term Outcomes in Neonatal Cancer Survivors. Clinics in Perinatology. 2021 Mar; 48(1):199-214. 

 

Ji X, Cummings JR, Mertens AC, Wen H, Effinger KE. Substance use, substance use disorders, and treatment in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors-Results from a national survey. Cancer. 2021 Sep 1;127(17):3223-3231. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33634. Epub 2021 May 11. PMID: 33974717

 

George S, Effinger KE, Meacham LR. Endocrine Sequelae in Childhood Cancer Survivors. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2020 Dec; 49(4):565-587. 

 

Lynn C, Quast L, Rogers H, Effinger KE, Gilleland Marchak J. Systematic Review of Health Literacy in Childhood Cancer Patients, Survivors, and Their Caregivers. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2020 May; 45(4):373-385. 

 

Meacham LR, Williamson Lewis R, Cherven BO, Effinger KE, Klosky JL, Gilleland Marchak J. Educational Intervention to Address Infertility Related Knowledge Gaps Among Adolescent, Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. 2020 Aug;9(4):472-480. 

 

Smith SM, Link MP, Effinger KE. Minding the Gap for Survivors of Childhood Cancer. JAMA Oncology. 2020 Mar 1; 6(3):330-332. 

 

Effinger KE, Stratton K, Fisher PG, Ness KK, Krull KR, Oeffinger KC, Armstrong GT, Robison LL, Hudson MM, Leisenring WM, Nathan PC. Long-term health and psychosocial function in adult survivors of pediatric astrocytoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. European Journal of Cancer. 2019 Jan; 106:171-180.  

 

George S, Williamson Lewis R, McKenzie L, Cherven B, Patterson B, Effinger KE, Mertens A, Meacham L. Assessment of Ovarian Function in Adolescents and Young Adults after Childhood Cancer Treatment- How Accurate are Young Adult/Parent Proxy-Reported Outcomes? Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2019 Dec;66(12):e27981.

 

Rose-Felker K, Effinger KE, Kelleman MS, Sachdeva R, Meacham LR, Border WL. Improving Paediatric Cardiologists’ Awareness About the Needs of Childhood Cancer Survivors: Results of a Single-Centre Directed Educational Initiative. Cardiology in the Young. 2019 Jun; 29(6):808-812.

 

Sabnis HS, Keenum C, Lewis RW, Patterson B, Bergsagel J, Effinger KE, Silverman E, Mertens AC, Castellino SM. Growth Disturbances in Children and Adolescents Receiving Long-term Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia or Philadelphia Chromosome-positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. British Journal of Haematology. 2019 May; 185(4):795-799.

 

Daly A, Williamson Lewis R, Vangile K, Wasilewki Masker K, Effinger KE, Meacham LR, Mertens AC. Survivor Clinic Attendance among Pediatric- and Adolescent-Aged Survivors of Childhood Cancer.  Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2019 Feb; 13(1):55-65.

 

George SA, Williamson Lewis R, Schirmer DA, Effinger KE, Spencer JB, Mertens AC, Meacham LR.  Early Detection of Ovarian Dysfunction by Anti-Mullerian Hormone in Adolescent and Young Adult-Aged Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Journal of Adolescent and  Young Adult Oncology. 2019 Feb; 8(1):18-25.

 

View more publications

National Cancer Institute, U01

Using Information Technology to Improve Outcomes for Children Living with Cancer

Role: Consultant

PI: Lai (Northwestern)

 

National Cancer Institute, P30 Administrative Supplement

Improving Support for Survivors Engaged in Transition (IS SET)

Role: Co-Project Leader

PI: Marcus

 

Woodruff Health Science Center, Synergy Award

Developing a Wellness Intervention for Adolescent Childhood Cancer Survivors

Role: Co-PI (Effinger, Marchak, Kegler)

 

CURE Childhood Cancer, Research Grant

Evaluation of Vestibular Dysfunction in Survivors of Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Treated with Platinum-Based Chemotherapies

Role: Co-PI (Effinger, Cannoy)