About The Retinoblastoma Center of Houston

The Retinoblastoma Center of Houston is a newly formed consortium of physicians and scientists from four renowned institutions within the Texas Medical Center. Together, they make up the world’s leaders in their specialties for the treatment and prevention of a rare childhood eye cancer called retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma Center Houston is the only center of its kind in the southwest United States and the only center in the nation investigating gene therapy. Patients will also have access to a special form of radiation called proton therapy, which helps to spare the healthy tissue around tumor areas. The center brings together well-known retinoblastoma specialists and sub-specialists who individually possess unique, highly specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating this rare childhood cancer.

Driven to understand the biology of retinoblastoma and identify prevention strategies, the physicians and scientists at the Retinoblastoma Center of Houston will conduct groundbreaking research and develop unique therapies aimed at finding a cure for this devastating disease.

Patients of the Retinoblastoma Center of Houston will be seen at the Children’s Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and at Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Pathology will be conducted at Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute. A central coordinator will receive all referrals and schedule patients at either Children’s Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, or Texas Children’s Cancer Center on a rotating basis. The team of physicians will set a treatment plan and come together from each institution to review the progress of patients.

Our Physicians...

What is retinoblastoma?

• Retinoblastoma is a cancer of the eye that develops in the cells of the retina
  
  
• Retinoblastoma is the most common malignancy of the eye in children, affecting more than 300 children annually in the United States
  
  
• Retinoblastoma can affect one eye or both eyes at the same time
  
  
• Retinoblastoma is suspected when the child develops whitish discoloration of the pupil of the eye or when the eyes are crossed or misaligned