Dr. Stephen Hunger
BS (Applied Biology), MD
Chief, Division of Paediatric Oncology
corporate_fareChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA
Stephen Hunger
BS (Applied Biology), MD
Dr. Stephen P. Hunger is a nationally recognised specialist in childhood cancer and one of the world's foremost authorities on paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). He serves as Chief of the Division of Paediatric Oncology and Director of the Center for Childhood Cancer Research at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and holds the Jeffrey E. Perelman Distinguished Chair in the Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. Hunger's career has been dedicated to improving outcomes for children with ALL — the most common childhood cancer. He has over 35 years of clinical and research experience spanning the University of Florida, Children's Hospital Colorado, and CHOP. He chaired the Children's Oncology Group ALL Disease Committee from 2008 to 2014 and leads the COG ALL TARGET project, which applies genomic approaches to identify and develop targeted therapies for high-risk and relapsed ALL. During his career, overall cure rates for childhood ALL have risen from approximately 60% to over 90%. He also serves as Associate Director for Paediatric Cancer Research at the Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania.
Families from outside the United States can submit reports through CancerFax. The team will prepare the case and coordinate the consultation process with CHOP, subject to availability and case acceptance.
Why Consider Dr. Stephen Hunger?
Dr. Hunger is among a small group of clinician-scientists who have defined the modern era of paediatric leukaemia treatment. Families seeking specialist expertise in childhood ALL — particularly high-risk, relapsed, or Ph-like ALL — will find few centres with comparable depth of research and clinical experience.
Areas of Specialisation
Paediatric haematology-oncology with a focused emphasis on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and genomics-directed treatment
Dr. Hunger's clinical and research practice centres on childhood ALL across all risk groups, with particular expertise in high-risk, relapsed, and Philadelphia chromosome-like (Ph-like) ALL.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
Comprehensive management of B-cell and T-cell ALL across standard, high-risk, and relapsed settings.
- arrow_rightNewly diagnosed B-precursor ALL, standard and high-risk
- arrow_rightPhiladelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL
- arrow_rightPhiladelphia chromosome-like (Ph-like) ALL — molecular profiling and targeted treatment planning
- arrow_rightABL-class fusion ALL treated with imatinib-based regimens in clinical trials
- arrow_rightNewly diagnosed T-cell ALL and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
- arrow_rightAugmented BFM backbone protocols including nelarabine and bortezomib combinations
- arrow_rightFirst and subsequent relapse B-ALL management
- arrow_rightBlinatumomab-based protocols through COG AALL1331
- arrow_rightRisk-stratified therapy following molecular re-evaluation
Genomic & Targeted Approaches
Applying molecular diagnostics and genomic profiling to guide treatment selection for children with leukaemia.
- arrow_rightGenomic characterisation of ALL subtypes including Ph-like ALL
- arrow_rightIdentification of novel fusion genes and kinase-activating alterations
- arrow_rightBiomarker-driven risk stratification
- arrow_rightTyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) integration — imatinib, dasatinib
- arrow_rightImmunotherapy approaches including blinatumomab
- arrow_rightClinical trial enrolment for eligible patients
Procedures & Clinical Services
Diagnostic evaluation, risk-stratified treatment, and clinical trial participation for children with leukaemia and haematologic malignancies
Dr. Hunger's clinical services span the full spectrum of paediatric ALL management — from initial diagnosis through risk-adapted systemic therapy, relapse management, and trial-based treatment.
Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Evaluation
DiagnosisComprehensive diagnostic workup for children with suspected or confirmed leukaemia.
Systemic Chemotherapy & Risk-Adapted Treatment
Medical OncologyProtocol-based chemotherapy for newly diagnosed and relapsed paediatric ALL.
Targeted & Immunotherapy Approaches
Targeted TherapyTKI-based and immunotherapy protocols for selected ALL subtypes.
Second Opinion & Case Review
Second OpinionExpert review of diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment planning for children with ALL.
Research & Publications
Genomic and clinical research in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Dr. Hunger leads the COG ALL TARGET project and has contributed extensively to the molecular characterisation of ALL subtypes, risk stratification, and the development of novel treatment strategies. He serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Blood, Leukemia, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Pediatric Blood and Cancer.
Dr. Hunger leads the Children's Oncology Group ALL TARGET project, a large-scale genomic initiative that has identified multiple novel ALL subtypes and informed new targeted treatment strategies for children worldwide.
Education & Training
Dr. Hunger completed his undergraduate training at MIT, his medical degree at the University of Connecticut, residency at Johns Hopkins, and fellowship in paediatric haematology-oncology and postdoctoral research at Stanford.
Clinical Experience
Dr. Hunger has held senior academic and clinical leadership positions across three major children's hospitals over a career spanning more than 35 years, progressing from faculty at the University of Florida to division chief at Children's Hospital Colorado and then to his current role at CHOP.
Languages & International
Dr. Hunger consults in the following language.
CancerFax can coordinate professional medical interpreter support for international patients consulting at CHOP.
CancerFax can coordinate professional medical interpreter support for international families where required.
How CancerFax Helps You Access Dr. Stephen Hunger
CancerFax is a specialist cancer patient-navigation platform. We help international patients prepare structured medical summaries, assess treatment eligibility, and connect directly with Dr. Stephen Hunger's team — with full coordination from initial inquiry to consultation.
Medical Report Review
Free review of your pathology results, imaging, molecular profiling, and treatment history — prepared as a structured clinical summary for Dr. Stephen Hunger's team.
Treatment Eligibility Screening
CancerFax screens your case for eligibility for treatments and clinical programmes available through Dr. Stephen Hunger before you travel, so you arrive with a clear pathway.
Case Submission
We coordinate direct case submission to Dr. Stephen Hunger's department, including all documentation required for clinical review and appointment scheduling.
Appointment & Consultation Coordination
CancerFax manages appointment scheduling with Dr. Stephen Hunger's team, confirming availability and aligning timelines with your travel plans.
Travel, Visa & Logistics Support
We prepare visa invitation letters, provide hospital-proximity accommodation guidance, and coordinate airport transfers for international patients.
Follow-Up & Continuity of Care
After your consultation or treatment, CancerFax facilitates communication between Dr. Stephen Hunger's team and your home oncologist for seamless post-treatment follow-up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Stephen Hunger
Dr. Hunger is one of the world's foremost specialists in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). His clinical and research focus covers B-cell ALL, T-cell ALL, Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL, Philadelphia chromosome-like (Ph-like) ALL, relapsed and refractory ALL, and paediatric haematologic malignancies more broadly.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has a dedicated Global Patient Services programme for international families. CancerFax can assist with preparing and submitting medical records and coordinating the initial inquiry process, subject to CHOP's availability and case acceptance criteria.
Submit your child's medical reports — including pathology, cytogenetics, molecular findings, imaging, and prior treatment summaries — through CancerFax. The team will review the documents, prepare the case, and coordinate the next steps with CHOP, subject to availability.
Yes. A second-opinion request can be submitted through CancerFax with the child's full diagnostic workup, including bone marrow pathology, immunophenotyping, cytogenetics, molecular/genomic panel results, and current treatment plan. The final consultation format depends on the doctor's availability and CHOP's intake process.
Ph-like ALL is a high-risk subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia that carries gene expression patterns similar to Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL but lacks the BCR-ABL1 fusion. It is associated with a higher rate of treatment failure on standard chemotherapy. Dr. Hunger's research through the COG ALL TARGET project has been instrumental in characterising Ph-like ALL and identifying targeted therapies — such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors — that may improve outcomes for affected children.
Yes. Dr. Hunger is an active leader on multiple Children's Oncology Group (COG) clinical trials, including Phase III studies evaluating blinatumomab in relapsed B-ALL (AALL1331), imatinib combinations in Ph+ ALL (AALL1631), and imatinib with or without blinatumomab for ABL-class fusion ALL (AALL2131). Eligibility for any specific trial depends on the child's diagnosis, age, disease status, and prior treatment history.
Connect with Stephen Hunger Today
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Medical Disclaimer: Information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any medical decisions.