
Oncology Program
For decades, the Pediatric Oncology Program has been at the forefront of researching and treating childhood cancers. We're committed to helping our patients access the latest innovations in cancer care, and we're often among the first centers to offer new techniques as they become available. All of our programs are designed specifically for diagnosing and treating children with cancer.
Compassionate medical care is complemented by a wide range of services designed to support the well-being of patients and their families throughout this challenging time. Knowing that undergoing cancer treatment is emotionally difficult, we offer not just a helping hand but a hand to hold.
In addition to treating patients, our specialists lead world-class research aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of cancer in children. Thanks to that work, our patients often have opportunities to participate in large-scale clinical trials of experimental drugs or other promising therapies.
Our overarching goal is to help kids get better as quickly as possible so they can put cancer behind them and get on with their lives. Thanks to the skill and dedication of our team, we're able to make the future brighter for so many of the patients who come to us.
Our locations (3)
Highlights of our cancer care

Leading-edge treatments
We're among the first to offer new treatment options, as soon as they're proven safe and effective. In addition, patients can access promising experimental therapies by participating in one of our many clinical trials.
Precision medicine
High-risk tumors are analyzed with the UCSF500 Cancer Gene Panel, a state-of-the-art test that identifies mutations in the tumor's DNA. The results can indicate the best treatment course and, in some cases, clarify the exact type of cancer.
Seamless care, near and far
Dedicated patient navigators help families with managing referrals, insurance concerns and appointment planning. We work with patients and referring doctors well beyond the San Francisco Bay Area, thanks to our comprehensive telehealth system.
Thorough follow-up
Our Pediatric Survivorship Program provides expert care to address any medical, psychological or social issues that arise after treatment is complete. The team also ensures smooth transitions to adult care providers as our patients leave childhood behind.

Our team
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Katherine K. Matthay
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Anuradha Banerjee
MD
Pediatric neuro-oncologist -
Benjamin S. Braun
MD, PhD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Maria I. Castellanos
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Robert E. Goldsby
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Caroline Hastings
MD
Hematologist-oncologist and neuro-oncologist -
Benjamin J. Huang
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Marie Jaeger-Krause
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist and neuro-oncologist -
Rohini Jain
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Benjamin Lerman
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Amanda Marinoff
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Jennifer Michlitsch
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Sabine Mueller
MD, PhD
Pediatric neurologist and neuro-oncologist -
Brian S. Na
MD, PhD
Neuro-oncologist -
Cheryl Peretz
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Alyssa Reddy
MD
Pediatric neurologist and neuro-oncologist -
Elizabeth Robbins
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Amit J. Sabnis
MD, MS
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Elizabeth Seashore
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist and palliative care physician -
Alejandro Sweet-Cordero
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Russell Valle
MD
Pediatric oncologist -
Natalie Wu
MD, MS
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Elizabeth (Betsy) Young
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Kathryn Aaronson
NP
Nurse practitioner -
Lea Fox
NP, MSN
Nurse practitioner -
Carly Hoffman
NP, RN
Pediatric nurse practitioner -
Fabienne Hollinger
NP
Family nurse practitioner -
Sarah Schleimer
NP
Pediatric nurse practitioner -
Erin Esaki
PA
Physician assistant
-
Katherine K. Matthay
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Anuradha Banerjee
MD
Pediatric neuro-oncologist -
Benjamin S. Braun
MD, PhD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Maria I. Castellanos
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Robert E. Goldsby
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Caroline Hastings
MD
Hematologist-oncologist and neuro-oncologist -
Benjamin J. Huang
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Marie Jaeger-Krause
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist and neuro-oncologist -
Rohini Jain
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Benjamin Lerman
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Amanda Marinoff
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Jennifer Michlitsch
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Sabine Mueller
MD, PhD
Pediatric neurologist and neuro-oncologist -
Brian S. Na
MD, PhD
Neuro-oncologist -
Cheryl Peretz
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Alyssa Reddy
MD
Pediatric neurologist and neuro-oncologist -
Elizabeth Robbins
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Amit J. Sabnis
MD, MS
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Elizabeth Seashore
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist and palliative care physician -
Alejandro Sweet-Cordero
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Russell Valle
MD
Pediatric oncologist -
Natalie Wu
MD, MS
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist -
Elizabeth (Betsy) Young
MD
Pediatric hematologist-oncologist
Special programs
Awards & recognition
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Best in Northern California for cancer care
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Ranked among the nation's best in 11 specialties
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Designated an early phase clinical trials core site by the Children's Oncology Group
UCSF's Pediatric Cancer Program

Plan your visit
What to Bring
- Photo I.D.
- Health insurance card
- Insurance authorization, if required
- Doctor's referral, if required
- Recent test results related to your child's condition
- List of medications, including dosages, plus any your child is allergic to
- List of questions you may have
- Device or paper for taking notes
- Completed medical forms that we will mail to you ahead of time
Related clinics (6)

Blood & Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinic

Hematology Clinic
Support services
Clinical trials
A Study of Lower Radiotherapy Dose to Treat Children With CNS Germinoma
Will be estimated for eligible and evaluable patients assigned to Stratum 1 using Kaplan-Meier (KM) EFS estimates at 2 and 3 years with respective 80% two-sided confidence intervals. Time from initiation of radiation to the first ...
Recruiting
More about this studyProject: Every Child for Younger Patients With Cancer
The number of patients who agree to be in the Biobanking part of the study and have leftover tumor tissue and some normal blood, bone marrow, or other tissue saved for future research.
Recruiting
More about this studyA Study of the Drugs Selumetinib vs. Carboplatin and Vincristine in Patients With Low-Grade Gli...
The Kaplan-Meier method will be used to estimate EFS which is defined as the interval from randomization to first occurrence of clinical or radiographic disease progression, disease recurrence, second malignant neoplasm, or death ...
Recruiting
More about this studyChemotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Very Low-Risk and Low Risk Fusi...
The Kaplan-Meier method will be used to estimate 3-year FFS along with 80% log-minus-log transformed confidence limits for very low risk (VLR) patients.
Recruiting
More about this studyInotuzumab Ozogamicin and Post-Induction Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk B-ALL...
Improvement in 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) with modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (mBFM) chemotherapy without delayed intensification (DI) part 2 but with inotuzumab ozogamicin, versus full mBFM chemotherapy backbone includ...
Recruiting
More about this studyDinutuximab With Chemotherapy, Surgery and Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Child...
EFS time is calculated from time of randomization to Arms A or B to first episode of disease relapse or progression, second malignancy, or death, or until last contact if no event has occurred.
Recruiting
More about this studyA Trial Comparing Unrelated Donor BMT With IST for Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With Seve...
The median time to failure or death will be compared on the two arms using the log-rank test. Failure of IST is defined as the date that a second definitive therapy was recommended (BMT, second course of ATG) and failure of BMT de...
Recruiting
More about this studyA Study of a New Way to Treat Children and Young Adults With a Brain Tumor Called NGGCT
Will be measured by the number of progressions or deaths within 2 years of enrollment for the cohort treated with whole ventricular + spinal canal irradiation (WVSCI). The final analysis will include an exact binomial confidence i...
Recruiting
More about this studyA Study to Learn More About the Health of Persons With Down Syndrome After Treatment for Acute ...
Summary statistics will be used to characterize the study populations on CHC outcomes. Quantitative data (number of comorbidities) will be summarized using descriptive statistics and correlational techniques. Will use pooled logis...
Recruiting
More about this studyDFMO as Maintenance Therapy for Molecular High/Very High Risk and Relapsed Medulloblastoma
o To evaluate the efficacy of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) as a single agent in preventing relapse in patients with molecular high risk and very high risk medulloblastoma, and relapsed/refractory medulloblastoma based upon the 2...
Recruiting
More about this studyOur research initiatives
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