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-- 38 percent of patients younger than 15 were enrolled in a clinical
trial.
-- 27 percent of AYA patients were enrolled in a clinical trial.
-- 41 percent of patients younger than 15 were not treated on a clinical
trial because one was not available.
-- 57 percent of AYA patients were not treated on a clinical trial because
one was not available.
"These findings underscore the need for AYA patients to be treated at centers such as children's hospitals that are involved in national cooperatives offering clinical trials of new treatments for pediatric and adolescent cancers," Dr. Ritchey said. "There also is a need for more national trials to be opened for AYA patients and the types of malignancies most common to them."
The national Children's Oncology Group -- of which Children's is a member -- has an AYA subcommittee on which Dr. Shaw serves that currently is evaluating the types of cancers affecting AYA patients and ways to increase clinical trials available to these patients, according to Drs. Shaw and Ritchey.
One strategy for ensuring that AYA patients are treated by oncologists who are most up-to-date on clinical trials and cutting-edge treatment programs is for pediatric oncology divisions to establish AYA oncology programs in cooperation with adult oncology counterparts.
In 2006, Children's partnered with colleagues from the University of
Pittsburgh Cancer Institute to establish an unparalleled AYA Oncology
Program. It combines the latest and most effective treatment options with a
comprehensive family-centered approach to c
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| SOURCE Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |