Chairman Lee Kun-hee's Donation Bears Fruit in 'Free Precision Medicine Support for Pediatric Leukemia'

Free Genomic Analysis Testing for Pediatric and Adolescent Leukemia Patients Nationwide
Annual Benefit for 400 Patients

The Pediatric Cancer and Rare Disease Support Project Group at Seoul National University Hospital announced on the 31st that starting from May, they have begun providing free 'next-generation sequencing-based genomic testing' necessary for treatment decisions and prognosis prediction to pediatric and adolescent leukemia patients nationwide. The project group is operated with donations from the late Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics.

Seoul National University Hospital exterior view. [Photo by Seoul National University Hospital]

Pediatric and adolescent cancers occur in approximately 1,000 to 1,200 cases annually in South Korea. Among these, about 30% are acute leukemia patients, representing the largest proportion. Pediatric and adolescent cancers are considered the leading cause of death in childhood, but recently, over 80% of patients have been cured through precision medicine based on genomic analysis.

Through this genomic analysis test, pediatric and adolescent leukemia patients are expected to receive precision medicine that establishes treatment strategies based on prognosis and initial treatment response, minimizing chemotherapy toxicity while maximizing treatment effectiveness. In particular, next-generation sequencing-based genomic testing has made it possible to identify the characteristics of tumor cells. According to the project group, this enables more detailed classification, treatment response prediction, and prognosis evaluation.

Next-generation sequencing testing analyzes genes simultaneously through bone marrow or blood samples. Although the high-cost test, exceeding 2 million KRW, is partially covered by health insurance, more than half of the cost is borne by patients. At the initial diagnosis of leukemia, two tests are performed: one on the leukemia cell genome and one on the patient's genome. In case of relapse, the leukemia cell genome test is conducted again.

Accordingly, the Pediatric Cancer and Rare Disease Support Project Group’s pediatric cancer division has decided to provide next-generation sequencing-based genomic testing free of charge to pediatric and adolescent leukemia patients nationwide through inter-hospital cooperation. The testing costs are covered by Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s donation. Patient specimens collected at each hospital are sent to a central testing institution, where the Integrated Genomic Analysis Committee analyzes the results and sends them to the patient’s attending physician. Through this system, approximately 400 patients nationwide are expected to benefit annually.

Professor Kang Hyung-jin of Seoul National University Hospital, the project leader, expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to this meaningful donation, treatment decisions and prognosis predictions will become possible through next-generation sequencing-based genomic testing of leukemia cells." He added, "This creates an opportunity to perform pharmacogenomic and adverse drug reaction prediction genomic tests in advance for pediatric leukemia patients nationwide, allowing us to predict and minimize treatment side effects and realize advanced precision medicine."

Professor Kang also emphasized, "In the long term, we will strive to expand support for precision medicine-based treatment for all pediatric and adolescent cancers in South Korea."

Meanwhile, the Pediatric Cancer and Rare Disease Overcoming Project has been conducting a research-based problem-solving project from 2021 to 2030 to overcome pediatric cancer and rare pediatric diseases in medical welfare blind spots in South Korea. The project group’s pediatric cancer division, rare disease division, and joint research division are carrying out multiple initiatives.

Major projects of the Pediatric Cancer Division of the Pediatric Cancer and Rare Disease Support Group at Seoul National University Hospital.
[Image provided by Seoul National University Hospital]