Young SIOP Voices is here! The Young SIOP Network (YSN) launches its new podcast series, bringing together global perspectives on genomics, ancestry, and equity in pediatric oncology.
Episode 1: “Beyond One-Size-Fits-All: Genetics, Ancestry, and Equity in Hispanic Pediatric Leukemia”
Why do cure rates and toxicities in childhood leukemia vary so drastically across borders? In this episode, host Callum Mullen (Epidemiologist, Canada) sits down with pediatric oncologist and Hope Clinic founder Dr. Terrie Flatt (Director of Clinical Services and Research Program for Hispanics, Children’s Mercy Kansas City) to explore the intersection of clinical science, ancestral genetics, and health equity in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Dr. Flatt unpacks the epidemiological disparities across Latin America, the molecular drivers behind Philadelphia-like ALL — including CRLF2 and IKZF1 alterations — and the urgent need for routine pharmacogenomic screening for high-toxicity agents like PEG-asparaginase and 6-mercaptopurine. The conversation bridges global health realities with clinical data, challenging the reliance on high-cost novel therapies in resource-limited settings, and touches on how Dr. Flatt’s early anthropological work in Mexico reshaped her definition of healing.
