Navis Foundation
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The challenge

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the U.S.

An estimated 13.7 million cases of childhood cancer are expected worldwide between 2020 and 2050. Research for children is still a fraction of what it is for adults.

4%of the National Cancer Institute’s budget has historically gone to childhood cancer
  • %

    of the National Cancer Institute’s budget has historically gone to research focused on childhood cancer.

  • +

    drugs approved by the FDA for childhood cancers since the 1950s. Many were first developed for adults.

  • +

    children in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer every day.

  • %

    of childhood cancer survivors have a chronic health condition by age 45.

  • 1 in 266children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday.
  • 15,340children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. in 2026.
  • 400,000children and adolescents develop cancer worldwide each year.
  • 13.7Mestimated cases of childhood cancer worldwide between 2020 and 2050.

Why the gap exists

Two reasons children are left behind.

  1. Pediatric cancer is considered rare.

    Researchers tend to favor developing drugs with the widest possible benefit and the largest market.

  2. Children are underrepresented in trials.

    Clinical studies with children involve unique ethical, logistical and technical challenges, so fewer studies are run and children are underrepresented in randomized clinical trials.

What can be done

Private donors fill the gap.

At the Navis Foundation, our challenge is to increase support for pediatric cancer research to find better treatments for children and ultimately a cure. Your generosity helps close the gap in pediatric cancer funding and create better outcomes for children and their families.

Donate now

Alessia’s diagnosis

What is Wilms tumor?

Wilms tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is the most common type of kidney cancer in children, accounting for about 5% of all childhood cancers. It typically affects children under the age of 5, with the average age of diagnosis around 3 to 4 years old. It is almost exclusively a childhood cancer, although there have been rare cases in adults.

Cause

The exact cause is not clear, but it involves random genetic mutations in kidney cells. A family history of Wilms tumor increases the risk. Black children have a slightly higher risk, while Asian-American children have a lower risk compared with other racial groups.

Symptoms

Abdominal swelling, often toward one side, fever, abdominal pain, constipation, high blood pressure and blood in the urine. A painless mass in the abdomen is a common presentation.

Treatment

Surgery is the primary treatment, often the partial or full removal of the affected kidney. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be used depending on the stage and histology of the tumor.

five-year survival rate for children with Wilms tumor, thanks to advances in treatment.

Sources: American Cancer Society, Cancer Statistics 2026 and National Cancer Institute and NCI Wilms tumor treatment (PDQ) and St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study and Children’s Cancer Cause and FDA pediatric oncology drug approvals. Read Alessia’s story