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Imperative of continual support by the European Community for future advances in paediatric oncology in Europe: meeting report of the EC-funded science-communication project DIRECT “Overcoming Cancer with Research”

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Background/Purpose

Remarkable advances in paediatric cancer research and treatment were achieved during the last decades: In industrialised nations, overall cure rates were raised from below 20% to over 75% during the last forty years. Randomised investigator-driven clinical trials have been the backbone of this progress so far. The EU Clinical Trial Directive was introduced to improve the quality and safety of drug development; however, it has created considerable administrative “extra” workload as well as financial constraints for trials aiming at cancer treatment optimisation in children. It failed to provide harmonisation for clinical trials throughout Europe because translation into national law was highly divergent. To address the resulting challenges for future advances in European paediatric oncology including the promotion of new drug development, improved communication between all stakeholders is warranted.

Methods

Supported by the EC-funded FP7 science-communication project “DIRECT”, a meeting of European paediatric oncologists, representatives of patients’ and parents’ associations, survivors, and competent authorities was organised to investigate past successes and future challenges in paediatric oncology in Europe.

Results

The DIRECT-Symposium contributed to assess what is required in the future to advance the care and closer approach to “total cure” of European children and adolescents with cancer in all medical, psychological and social aspects. Various strategies were discussed and are summarised in this article.

Conclusion

EC-funded science-communication projects such as DIRECT are successful means to foster the public awareness of the necessities in caring for and curing paediatric cancer patients in the future. Amongst these, appreciation of the specific conditions and a need of continual funding by the EU are imperative.

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Abbreviations

ALL:

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

CTD:

Clinical trials directive

DIRECT:

Disseminate Results from EC funded projects improved Therapy options in paediatric oncology

EC:

European commission

EMEA:

European medicine agency

EORTC:

European organisation for research and treatment of cancer

EU:

European union

FP7:

7th Framework programme

GCP:

Good clinical practice

GPOH:

Society of paediatric oncology/haematology

IARC:

International agency for research on cancer

I–BFM:

International Berlin/Frankfurt/Muenster study group

IDCT:

Investigator driven clinical trials

IMP:

Investigational medicinal product

ITCC:

European consortium for innovative therapies for children with cancer

KPOH:

German competent net for paediatric oncology/ haematology

PDCO:

Paediatric committee

PIP:

Paediatric investigation plan

SIOP (-E):

International society of paediatric oncology (-Europe)

TOS:

Therapy optimising study

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deptartment of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin-Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany

    G. Tallen

  2. St. Anna Children’s Hospital, Vienna, Austria

    M. Dworzak & H. Gadner

  3. Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria

    M. Dworzak & H. Gadner

  4. Deptartment of Paediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    G. Masera & A. Biondi

  5. Deptartment of Paediatrics, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    M. Schrappe

  6. Tettamanti Research Centre, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy

    A. Biondi

  7. Clinical and Translational Research, Institute Gustave-Roussy, University Paris-Sud, Villejuif Cedex, France

    G. Vassal

  8. Erasmus MC – Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    R. Pieters

  9. Deptartment of Paediatric Oncology, Medical University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    J. Jazbec

  10. Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    B. Morland

  11. Competence Network Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (KPOH), Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, Westfaelische Wilhelms-University Münster, 48129, Münster, Germany

    G. Tallen & Ursula Creutzig MD (Scientific Manager of the German Society for Paediatric Oncology/Haematology (GPOH) and Coordinator of the Competence Network Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (KPOH)

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  1. G. Tallen
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  2. M. Dworzak
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  3. H. Gadner
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  4. G. Masera
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  5. M. Schrappe
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  6. A. Biondi
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  7. G. Vassal
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  8. R. Pieters
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  9. J. Jazbec
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  10. B. Morland
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  11. Ursula Creutzig MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ursula Creutzig MD.

Additional information

G. Tallen, M. Dworzak, as well as H. Gadner and Ursula Creutzig contributed equally to this work.

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Tallen, G., Dworzak, M., Gadner, H. et al. Imperative of continual support by the European Community for future advances in paediatric oncology in Europe: meeting report of the EC-funded science-communication project DIRECT “Overcoming Cancer with Research”. memo 2, 234–245 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-009-0168-9

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