Articles

The strategic plan for paediatric cancer treatment and clinical research development in Belgium

BJMO - volume 13, issue 1, february 2019

A. van Damme , B. De Moerloose MD, PhD, B. Brichard MD, PhD, A. Ferster MD, D. Heenen , G. Laureys , K. Norga , C. Piette MD, PhD, J. van der Werff ten Bosch , A. Uyttebroeck MD, PhD

Childhood cancer can be cured in a good proportion of patients, but outcome rates are still unsatisfactory for specific cancer types and for resistant or relapsed disease. Collaborative clinical research is required for further outcome improvement as well as easier access for children to innovative treatments. Moreover, clinical care standards and clinical research infrastructure in Belgium should be optimised and structurally financed to reach the level proposed by international professional and scientific organisations. In this strategic plan, obstacles are analysed, and solutions for improved childhood cancer care and clinical research in Belgium are proposed.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2019;13(1):21–26)

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