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More and better cure for an orphan: priorities for future paediatric cancer research in Europe – Meeting report of the EC-funded science-communication project DIRECT “Overcoming Cancer with Research”

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Background

Although cure rates for childhood cancer have improved from below 20% to more than 75% during the last 40 years, childhood cancer is still the number one killer amongst paediatric diseases. European paediatric cancer research also faces new challenges by the increasing number of childhood cancer survivors, some of whom experience significantly altered life-quality due to serious psychosocial and medical long-term side-effects of the intensive cancer treatment. Hence, to achieve even higher quantity and quality of cure for Europe’s children and adolescents with cancer, development of new treatment options is now required, as are intensified epidemiological investigations into health and psycho-social issues of paediatric cancer survivors on the EU-level.

Methods

Based on presentations and discussions at a recent meeting of leading European paediatric oncologists supported by the EC-funded science-communication project “DIRECT", this article discusses the situation of European paediatric cancer research under the EU-Framework Programmes (FPs).

Results

Single, partially interlinking paediatric oncological research projects received EU-funding during the last three FPs. However, given the increased budgets for health research under the FP6 and FP7 together with their goal to improve the European Research Area (ERA), relatively few of the current challenges in European paediatric oncology have been covered so far when compared to the spending for adult cancer.

Conclusion

Although still fragmented, current EC-funded projects in paediatric oncology would be amenable to a higher level of integration. In order to achieve a closer approach to “total cure” including all medical, psychological and social aspects, paediatric cancer should become a horizontal priority of European research funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department 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. Department of Paediatrics, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    G. Masera & A. Biondi

  5. G. Gaslini Children’s Hospital, Genova, Italy

    R. Haupt

  6. Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, University of Essen, Essen, Germany

    A. Eggert

  7. Department of Paediatrics, University of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    M. Schrappe

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

    A. Biondi

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

    G. Vassal

  10. Competence Network Paediatric Oncology/ 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. R. Haupt
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  7. M. Schrappe
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  8. A. Biondi
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  9. G. Vassal
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  10. 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. More and better cure for an orphan: priorities for future paediatric cancer research in Europe – Meeting report of the EC-funded science-communication project DIRECT “Overcoming Cancer with Research”. memo 2, 246–254 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-009-0169-8

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