SPOG Anniversary Symposium: Progress through cooperation and coordination

“Far more than just a milestone in time: half a century of dedication, collaboration and progress in the care of children and young people with cancer. Thousands of young lives that have been saved, prolonged or significantly improved – thanks to your dedication.”

With these words, Salome von Greyerz, Head of the Department of Health Care and Professions at the Federal Office of Public Health, opened the series of official welcoming addresses at the SPOG Anniversary Symposium. On 5 June, all those involved in ‘paediatric oncology in Switzerland’ gathered in Bern for the event, with around 200 people in attendance. Katrin Scheinemann and Nicolas Gerber, President and Vice-President of SPOG, skilfully guided the proceedings throughout the day.

Broad collaboration and effective coordination

Nicole Schaad, Head of the National Research Division at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), described SPOG as “a cornerstone of paediatric oncology”. In the complex and constantly evolving field of childhood cancer, she said, effective coordination and sufficient critical mass are essential. Schaad went on to say that the long-standing financial support from SERI is a clear recognition of SPOG’s outstanding scientific work. The network knows how to translate public investment into measurable benefits for society and for patients.

Manuela Weichelt, Member of the National Council and board member of Kinderkrebs Schweiz, highlighted the high survival rate of over 87 % among children and young people with cancer in Switzerland. She emphasised the importance of collaboration between researchers, policy-makers, organisations and families.

How it all began

Professor Günter Henze, long-standing head of paediatric oncology and haematology at the Charité in Berlin, provided an insight into 50 years of research. In 1972, he noted, almost every child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had died. At the time, no none could have imagined that one day over 90 % of young patients would survive. It was cooperation, not competition, that had made this progress possible.

Improving survival rates worldwide

Felix Niggli, former SPOG President, pointed out that high survival rates are only achieved in high-income countries. In middle- and low-income countries, the survival rate stands at 20 %. Maja Beck Popovic, Professor Emerita at the Lausanne University Children’s Hospital, presented, among other things, the WHO’s ‘Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer’. She also recalled the humanitarian commitment of SPOG’s founding father, Hans-Peter Wagner: as early as 1993, he established a committee within the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) to help countries with limited resources improve cancer treatment for children.

Sustainable funding

SPOG President Katrin Scheinemann and Director Isabelle Lamontagne-Müller presented today’s SPOG with evident pride and enthusiasm. They emphasised how important sustainable funding is to ensure that a study – and with it the treatments carried out within it – can be seen through to the end. They would make this promise to patients and their families.

Significant progress has also been made in study designs

Not only have diagnostic and treatment methods improved enormously, but study designs have also undergone significant development. This was highlighted by Pamela Kearns, Professor Emerita at the University of Birmingham. The challenge, she explained, is to determine the best course of action despite the small patient groups involved in clinical trials. Modern study designs have made this possible.

A revolution is underway

Although four out of five children survive cancer, further research remains a priority. Jean-Pierre Bourquin, Professor at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, explained the reasons: on the one hand, childhood cancer is still the leading cause of death from disease among children; on the other hand, at least a third of children suffer lasting long-term effects from the toxicity of treatment. Bourquin described today’s rapid developments as a ‘revolution’. The new National Centre of Competence in Research ‘Children and Cancer’ makes it possible to better understand the biology of childhood cancers and to find new, tailored therapies.

Real benefits for patients and their families

Which studies are truly important for patients and their families? The ‘patient advocates’ had the final say. They are organised within the ‘SPOG Patient Advisory Board’. Nicole Seiler, Nicole Scobie and Paul Castle introduced the newly formed board. The Patient Advisory Board acts as a ‘bridge’ between patients and their families and the medical staff. The patients’ perspective is another piece of the puzzle that drives paediatric cancer research forward.

The symposium concluded with a wonderful musical finale featuring Brahms. It turned out that outstanding clinicians and researchers can also be very good musicians.