Shannon E. Wilkes Biorepository and Targeted Therapy Program

Shannon E. Wilkes Biorepository and Targeted Therapy Program

The Shannon E. Wilkes Targeted Therapy Program at Akron Children’s provides care for children whose tumors have a high risk of relapse, such as bone tumors, neuroblastomas, and certain brain tumors and forms of leukemia.

The program began in 2014 through funding from Scott and Gail Wilkes, who lost their daughter to osteosarcoma when she was 24 years old.

Targeted therapy can be used to block the growth or spread of cancer cells while limiting the damage to normal cells. Because not all tumors attack the same targets, tests are run on the genes and proteins of a child’s cancer cells to determine the most effective treatment.

The collection, storage and analysis of tissues samples is made possible through an on-site tissue bank. For more information, call 330-543-8580.