Therapeutic Research Projects (H-T)

Author: Dr. med. Ralf Herold, Last modification: 2004/06/16

It's the Patient that Counts: Therpeutic Research

Three projects within the Competence Network on Pediatric Oncology and Hematology are concerned with therapeutic research. Their work includes optimization of therapy by evaluation and development of new therapy forms, and evaluation of acute and late toxicity as an instrument for the improvement of drug safety.

Immuno- and gene therapeutic approaches seem especially useful in cases of pediatric malignoma characterized by only a few specific genetic aberrations. While treatment of cancer in children would require a maximum of pharmaceutical safety there is still a lack of concepts for integrated therapy and experimental and pharmaceutical standards. Up to now, no data on the frequency of pharmacotherapeutic mistakes in treatment, possibilities of their prevention, and their health-related consequences has been published.

High cure rates bring up the question how quality of life, long term consequences and the incidence of relapses are effected after intense chemotherapy during childhood. What's needed most is a systematic collection and recording of data to serve as a basis for the future design of therapy strategies.

Project H: Immuno- and Gene Therapy aims at broadening the spectrum of therapy options by developing immuno- and gene therapys for selected oncologic diseases.

Project I: Late Effects, Quality of Life and a Vertical Network has the goal to improve health-related quality of life and the degree of late toxicity.

Project K: Second Malignant Neoplasms After Childhood Cancer investigates the incidence and risk of development of secondary malignomas after successful treatment of cancer during childhood. This data is used to provide a basis for the future design of therapys and aftercare that can reduce the risk for development of a secondary malignant tumor.