In recent years, 5-year survival rates for children with cancer (typically equating to cure) have risen to ~80% in most high-income countries (HICs) (1–4). This progress reflects partly the optimized use of conventional therapies (e.g., cytotoxic drugs) through better risk stratification of patients. For example, on the basis of molecular prognostic markers, treatments are intensified for patients identified as high risk and deescalated for patients identified as lower risk to reduce the likelihood of immediate and long-term side effects. Expanding portfolios of new drugs that target the biological mechanisms driving the growth of pediatric cancers are also starting to contribute to improved cure rates in HICs (5). Read More

IMG: Childhood cancer incidence deficit: Percentage of expected cancer cases diagnosed in each country.

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