​KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) has established the new Children’s Blood and Cancer Centre (CBCC) to advance research, education and complex care for blood and cancer disorders in babies and children.

Launched in February 2022, the CBCC is one of the most comprehensive paediatric blood and cancer centres in Southeast Asia, focusing on basic science and translational research in childhood cancers, and clinical research in paediatric blood and cancer disorders.

"Research is key in improving outcomes in childhood blood and cancer disorders. As these conditions are rare, with the majority of them having unknown causes, multi-centre and international collaborations are important to advance cures and improve our young patients’ health outcomes."

- Prof Leung Wing Hang, Director, CBCC and Visiting Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service, KKH

MULTIDISCIPLINARY, INDIVIDUALISED CARE

“Cancers in children can be broadly classified as blood cancers, brain tumours and solid tumours. Building on decades of cancer research at KKH, the CBCC will bring us a step closer towards enabling every patient to receive holistic, individualised and targeted treatment,” shares Dr Soh Shui Yen, Head and Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service, KKH.

The CBCC is led by a multidisciplinary team of paediatric oncology specialists in the fields of:

• Paediatric haematology/oncology
• Paediatric surgical oncology
• Neurosurgery
• Radiation oncology
• Pathology and molecular pathology
• Diagnostic and interventional imaging
• Nuclear medicine
• Nursing
• Allied health

CONDITIONS SEEN AT THE CBCC

The centre provides holistic care for paediatric oncology patients diagnosed with:

• Various types of leukaemia and lymphoma
• Embryonal brain tumours
• High- and low-grade gliomas
• Neuroblastoma
• Childhood liver and renal tumours
• Bone tumours
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Rare malignancies

GLOBAL RESEARCH INTEGRATION

The CBCC uses the latest treatment protocols of international childhood tumour study groups such as for liver and kidney tumours, and is the only participating site in Southeast Asia to do so. It also provides pathology and molecular pathology consultations for challenging and rare childhood cancers in the region

THE BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANTATION AND CELLULAR THERAPY PROGRAMME

Transplantation

Beyond clinical treatment, the CBCC houses the Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (BMTCT) programme, which has been providing bone and marrow transplantation for children with malignant and non-malignant conditions since 1998.

The availability of advanced donor graft manipulation techniques and supportive care further increases the potential for more eligible donors and cures for patients.

Advanced therapies

Since 2020, the BMTCT programme offers chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed refractory haematologic malignancies, with two approved clinical trials recruiting eligible patients. Rapid advances in the cellular therapy field will enable CAR T-cell therapy to be a safer and more cost-effective treatment, and benefit more patients with different types of cancer.

HOLISTIC FOLLOW-UP AND CARE

The KKH Childhood Cancer Survivorship Programme also provides holistic follow-up and care for childhood cancer survivors, and collects longitudinal health data to inform care and support.

Any patient with a history of childhood cancer or cancer/transplant treatment during childhood can be referred to the programme.

Our Care Team

Director
Prof Leung Wing Hang
Visiting Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service

Manager
Ms Angeline Lim
Asst Manager, Haematology/Oncology Service

Committee Chair
Dr Soh Shui Yen
Head & Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service

Benign Haematology Lead
Clin Assoc Prof Joyce Lam
Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service;
Deputy Head, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Malignant Haematology Lead
Dr Rajat Bhattacharyya
Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service

Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Lead
Dr Michaela Seng
Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service

Brain and Solid Tumours Lead
Dr Amos Loh
Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatric Surgery

Survivorship and Late Effects Lead
Clin Assoc Prof Tan Ah Moy
Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service

Psychosocial, Preventive, Palliative and Supportive Care Leads
Clin Assoc Prof Chan Mei Yoke
Senior Consultant, Haematology/Oncology Service
Dr Lois Teo
Head & Senior Principal Psychologist, Psychology Service

Molecular and Histopathology Lead
Clin Assoc Prof Kenneth Chang
Head & Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Data Science, Registry and Clinical Trial Management
Ms Germaine Liew
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator

GMP and Quality Management Lead
Dr Chu Pak Yan
Senior Principal Medical Lab Scientist,
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine