Category: childhood cancer

Kapa3 and Karkinaki join forces to support children, adolescents, and families living with cancer

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 announces its new collaboration with the non-profit organization “Karkinaki”, aiming to strengthen information, psychosocial support, and awareness around childhood and adolescent cancer, as well as to support families experiencing the disease.

Karkinaki is a specialized organization working in the field of childhood and adolescent cancer, focusing on reliable information, empowering parents and caregivers, and fostering a supportive environment around children and teenagers affected by cancer. Through community-based actions and awareness initiatives, it seeks to reduce the sense of isolation that often accompanies diagnosis, while also enhancing understanding, social awareness, and access to available support resources for families.

Within the framework of this collaboration, the two organizations will develop joint initiatives focused on information and awareness-raising, with an emphasis on actions addressing both families and healthcare and support professionals. The partnership will also include the co-organization of informational events, the exchange of good practices, and the exploration of participation in national and European programs that promote a holistic approach to patient care, with an emphasis on continuity of support across all stages of the disease experience.

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 is dedicated to informing, guiding, and empowering people affected by cancer, providing practical support and access to reliable information and services. At the same time, it develops initiatives that strengthen patients’ active participation in managing their health and promotes a more accessible and human-centered model of care.

In this context, Kapa3 is also involved in European collaborations focusing on the psychosocial dimension of cancer across different stages of life, such as the MELODIC project, which addresses the mental health of young adults with lived experience of cancer. This work further enhances the organization’s ability to recognize needs that emerge throughout the cancer journey, from childhood to adulthood.

This collaboration with Karkinaki reflects the shared vision of both organizations to strengthen a support network that goes beyond medical treatment, extending into families’ daily lives, information access, and psychosocial empowerment, with the aim of providing a more stable and meaningful presence for those who need it most.

Our Press Release here: KARKINAKI PRESS RELEASE

Text: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

January 24 – International Day of Education

January 24 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Education, recognizing education as a fundamental human right and a key pillar of social cohesion, equality, and sustainable development. Access to knowledge is not only a means of professional growth but also a decisive factor in psychological resilience, personal identity, and hope for the future.

EDUCATION AND ILLNESS: WHEN LEARNING BECOMES SUPPORT

For children living with cancer or other serious illnesses, education takes on a special significance. International initiatives, such as hospital schools, have highlighted the role of learning in maintaining continuity of life during treatment. According to the World Health Organization, education for hospitalized children is not just about curriculum but also serves as a source of joy, normalcy, and psychological empowerment. Participation in lessons, interaction with teachers, and pursuing personal interests help children retain goals and envision their future, even under the strain of serious illness.

YOUNG ADULTS WITH CANCER: STUDIES, INTERRUPTIONS, AND RETURNS

Education is also a critical issue for young adults living with cancer, an age group often engaged in higher education, vocational training, or early career stages. International research shows that a cancer diagnosis during this period can lead to study interruptions, delayed completion, shifts in educational direction, and increased psychological burden. Studies from Europe and the United States report higher levels of anxiety, social isolation, and uncertainty about the future, while also highlighting that flexible educational structures and supportive policies significantly increase the likelihood of returning to and completing studies.

Yet there are also those who, through their experience with illness, redefine their priorities: pursuing new fields of knowledge, changing direction, or discovering previously untapped skills.

DATA IN GREECE

In Greece, there are no official data tracking continuation or interruption of studies for young adults living with cancer — such as how many students drop out, how many return after treatment, or the overall impact on their educational trajectory. However, it is estimated that the incidence of cancer in young adults is approximately 7.4 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, highlighting the unique psychosocial and developmental challenges this group faces. The lack of systematic data on educational outcomes underscores the need for further research and for policies that support young people in continuing or completing their studies when and how they wish.

Education at any age can serve as a tool for hope and life reorientation. Many individuals who have experienced cancer choose to return to learning, acquire new skills, change career paths, or invest in postponed dreams. Knowledge does not erase the challenges of illness, but it can provide meaning, perspective, and a sense of control during uncertain times.

At KAPA3, we recognize the importance of education as an integral part of psychosocial support. Through our participation in European projects, such as MELODIC, which focuses on the mental health of young adults with cancer, we highlight the need for holistic approaches that consider life, studies, and personal plans beyond the diagnosis.

The International Day of Education serves as a reminder that knowledge does not stop in the face of illness. With support, understanding, and appropriate structures, education can remain alive — acting as a bridge to the future and a reminder that life continues.

Sources:

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

GD2: A Critical Biomarker and Therapeutic Target – What the Latest Evidence Shows

New scientific data highlight GD2 — a glycolipid biomarker expressed in specific cancer cells — as one of the most promising therapeutic targets in modern oncology. A recent review published in an international scientific journal brings together the latest findings on the use of GD2 in immunotherapies, CAR-T cell treatments, monoclonal antibodies, and other innovative approaches.

What is GD2 and why does it matter?

GD2 is a molecule known as disialoganglioside-2, found in high concentrations on the surface of certain cancer cells. This makes it particularly valuable as a target for personalized immunotherapies, as treatments can “recognize” and destroy GD2-positive cells while sparing healthy tissues.

Cancers with high GD2 expression include:
• Neuroblastoma
• Osteosarcoma
• Melanoma
• Breast cancer (triple-negative in some cases)
• Certain lung cancers
• Rare pediatric tumors

In neuroblastoma — one of the most common pediatric cancers — GD2-directed antibody therapy has already improved survival in high-risk patients.

The new scientific review maps the current progress in GD2-targeted therapies, highlighting the technologies showing the strongest clinical potential. GD2-directed monoclonal antibodies, already effective in children with neuroblastoma, are evolving into more precise and safer versions, aiming to expand their use in adult tumors as well. The review also presents updated data from clinical trials of GD2-directed CAR-T cells: despite challenges such as toxicity, tumor escape, and limited persistence, newer CAR-T generations demonstrate improved safety, deeper penetration into solid tumors, and especially promising outcomes in pediatric patients.

The review further examines combination immunotherapies that pair GD2 targeting with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immune checkpoint inhibitors, offering enhanced effectiveness against resistant tumors. Finally, emerging platforms are described — including bispecific antibodies, “smart” nanoparticle-based strategies, and drug-delivery technologies that target only GD2-positive cells — expanding the therapeutic landscape and opening new avenues for future applications.

What does this mean for patients?

GD2-targeted therapy is no longer theoretical — it is already a reality in certain pediatric cancers and is rapidly expanding into other tumor types.

Key benefits for patients include:
• greater precision with reduced toxicity
• the potential for highly individualized treatment based on tumor profile
• new hope for tumors that remain difficult to treat with existing methods
• improved survival prospects, especially for children

For pediatric and young adult patients — a group with historically limited and often highly burdensome treatment options — GD2-directed therapies represent a significant step forward.

Despite the important progress made, several challenges remain. These include side effects such as neuropathic pain, tumor resistance or escape from targeting, the high cost and limited availability of advanced treatments, and the need for large, multi-center clinical trials to produce more robust and generalizable data. Still, research activity is intensifying, with dozens of clinical studies currently ongoing worldwide.

Within this evolving landscape, Kapa3 remains committed to providing accurate, accessible, and compassionate information to patients and families, particularly those facing severe, rare, or pediatric cancers. Advances in GD2-targeted therapies are opening new pathways for children and young people with limited options today , showcasing the power and potential of immunotherapy. At the same time, they highlight the urgent need for equitable access to innovative treatments for patients in Greece.

Kapa3 will continue to follow scientific developments closely and keep the community informed in a clear, reliable, and human-centered way.

Sources: Here

Text/Adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3

Parenting in Childhood Cancer: The Importance of Psychological Support

One of the hardest challenges for parents of children with cancer —emotionally and practically—is to see your child in pain and distress, especially when facing cancer. Unfortunately, according to the World Health Organization, around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every year, most commonly with leukemia, brain tumors, or lymphomas. Parents play a crucial role in improving their child’s quality of life, and their emotional well-being is the cornerstone for coping with this demanding situation. (World Health Organization, 2025)

Parenting and Childhood Cancer

Cancer can cause major upheavals and imbalances within a family. Parents in particular play a multifaceted and decisive role, often experiencing intense distress, stress, anxiety, depression, or even post-traumatic stress symptoms. According to the study by Kearney, Salley, and Muriel, parental distress negatively affects the child’s quality of life as well as family and marital relationships.
Because parents are the primary caregivers, they strive to support their children throughout all stages of treatment. Building psychological resilience against fear and stress is essential to achieving that goal. Without parental self-care, there can be no real care for the child. (Kearney et al., 2015)

The Importance of Psychological Support

Most parents develop resilience, creating a new sense of normalcy. However, additional support through psychotherapy—particularly cognitive-behavioral and family-based approaches (CBT)—can greatly help manage emotions and reduce anxiety.
Problem-Solving Skills Training (PSST), which helps individuals identify and correct unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, has proven effective: more than 800 mothers of children with cancer reported reduced negative emotions and distress.
Beyond professional psychological support, parents’ own outlook and access to emotional support play a significant role in how they cope. (Kearney et al., 2015)
In every case, childhood cancer places a heavy burden on parents, demanding enormous strength and dedication. Yet with self-care, they can create the foundation to better support their children.

At Kapa3, we strongly believe that psychological empowerment and emotional support for parents and caregivers of children with cancer are vital. Through awareness actions, support programs, and collaborations with mental health professionals, we aim to strengthen not only the patients but also those who stand by them every single day.

Sources: Kearney, J. A., Salley, C. G., & Muriel, A. C. (2015). Standards of psychosocial care for parents of children with cancer. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 62(S5), S632–S683. Read more here

Read more here

Original text by Anastasia Dania for Kapa3
English translation and adaptation by Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3