SPOG performs research with the aim of offering all children and adolescents with cancer the best and newest treatment.
The aim of SPOG is to cure children and adolescents with cancer. In order to achieve this, we research childhood cancer. By enrolling children and adolescents with cancer in studies in Switzerland, we can offer them the most effective therapy in accordance with the state of the scientific art in medicine. Our objective is to continuously improve the quality of life and chances of a cure for these children and adolescents.
In clinical studies, researchers investigate a modified therapy or a new medicinal product, for example, while in research projects they collect biological material and/or health-related personal data.
Overview of all SPOG studies
Studie in the field of leukaemia, lymphoma and bone marrow disease
Leukaemias and lymphomas are some of the most common cancers in children and adolescents. Since the treatments currently available are very debilitating due to some side effects being severe and also unexpected, researchers are working to develop risk-adjusted therapies so that treatment can be tailored to each individual child. The aim of treatment optimisation studies for these diseases is to improve recovery rates while at the same time reducing side effects.
ALCL-VBL
This study is investigating the efficacy of therapy using just one medication (vinblastine) in patients with a rare lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
ALL-REZ BFM
This registry compiles important basic data on relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The data is intended to provide a better understanding of this rare disease. It is hoped that this will enable treatment to be optimised.
ALL SCTped 2012 FORUM
This study aims to improve and standardise throughout Europe the treatment of children and adolescents who have acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and require a stem cell transplant.
B-NHL 2013
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are malignant tumours that occur in the lymphatic system, grow very quickly and can spread throughout the entire body. The clinical study B-NHL 2013 is investigating whether the medication rituximab in combination with conventional chemotherapy is effective in combating aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The aim of the study is to improve the survival rate of the children and adolescents affected.
EWOG-MDS 2006
This study aims to find better ways of diagnosing and treating children and adolescents with particular disorders of the bone marrow (myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML)). This should help patients to get better more quickly and increase their chances of a full recovery.
EWOG-SAA 2010
The purpose of this study is to gain more knowledge about acquired severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) in children and adolescents. This is a disorder that originates in the bone marrow where, in this case, too few blood cells are produced, or blood cells do not function sufficiently well. This knowledge may help to develop better therapies for this rare disorder in the future.
IntReALL HR 2010
This study is investigating whether the combination of a particular medication with standard therapy is more effective than standard therapy alone in high-risk relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The aim is to improve the treatment outcomes for children and adolescents and increase the survival rate.
LBL 2018
The aim of this study is to find the best treatment options for children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma, in order to achieve an optimal prognosis and a low risk of relapse.
ML-DS 2018
This study is investigating whether the intensity of the treatment for children and adolescents with Down's syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can be reduced to lessen the frequency of severe side effects.
SCRIPT-AML
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a cancer that affects the bone marrow and blood. This study aims to determine the optimal treatment for children and adolescents with AML who need a stem cell transplant.
Studies in preparation
The ALL-BFM registry collects data from children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This is performed regardless of the young patients’ participation in a clinical trial. The collected data allows researchers to plan new clinical trials and research projects.
This study is attempting to develop a better treatment with fewer side effects for children and adolescents with recently diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). A special protocol is being used for this purpose, which enables treatment to be tailored to the child's risk.
This study seeks to improve the quality of diagnoses for children and adolescents with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA), a rare bone marrow disorder. It is also compiling information about the treatment and the course of the disease. The knowledge gained could help to improve the chances of recovery for future patients.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. In this condition, certain cells, known as lymphocytes, grow uncontrollably. The GPOH-HD Registry 2.0 collects data on treatment, disease stage, and recovery of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. The aim of the registry is to personalise treatment and improve the early detection of relapses.
The aim of this study is to improve treatment for infants with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), particularly in order to increase the survival rate of patients.
Studies in the field of solid tumours
Solid tumours are a group of cancers that can occur in various organs such as the kidneys, adrenal glands and liver. Some of these tumours originate while the child is developing in the womb. Although these tumours generally respond well to chemotherapy, certain sub-groups are more difficult to treat due to their biological characteristics. For this reason, new therapies are being investigated in current studies, so that these tumours can be better treated. Sarcomas are another type of solid tumour that occur in bones, muscles and soft tissue. Treating sarcomas often requires radiotherapy and surgery as well as intensive chemotherapy. Current studies are investigating new approaches to treatment and new biological substances in order to improve the prognosis for sarcomas with metastases, and to improve the recovery rate and survival chances for sick children and adolescents.
CWS-Register SoTiSaR
Soft tissue sarcomas occur in the body's soft tissues, such as muscles, fatty tissue and ligaments. Researchers are collecting and documenting information about the more than 25 different types of tumour that make up this sort of cancer. This will enable them to gain knowledge about treatment outcomes and prognoses.
EU-RHAB
This study collects information about children and adolescents with a specific type of cancer – rhabdoid tumours. It aims to discover how often these tumours occur, at what age, where they originate and how well treatments work. Participating patients receive additional expert opinions on their diagnosis, images of their tumours and treatment plans.
FaR-RMS
In this study, researchers want to find out all about rhabdomyosarcoma, a very aggressive type of soft tissue tumour, and improve treatment. The intention is to increase the chances of curing this disease.
HR-NBL2/SIOPEN
The purpose of this study is to find the best treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastomas. Researchers are comparing current chemotherapies and radiotherapies with new methods to discover which are most effective and best tolerated.
LCH-IV
This study is seeking to find the best treatment options for a rare disorder of the immune system called Langerhans cell histiocytosis, in which certain immune cells attack the patient's own body.
MAKEI V
The main aim of this study is to reduce the complications of therapy for children and adolescents with a dangerous tumour of the germ cells (reproductive cells).
PHITT
In this study, researchers want to find better treatments that increase the chances of recovery for children and adolescents with liver tumours and improve their quality of life.
rEECur
Ewing's sarcoma is a rare type of bone and soft-tissue cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents. This study compares several different types of chemotherapy with established medications to find the best treatment for recurrent and difficult-to-treat Ewing's sarcoma.
SIOP RANDOMET 2017
This study is looking for the best treatment options for advanced malignant kidney tumours in children and adolescents.
SIOPEN BIOPORTAL
Neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma are malignant tumours of the nervous system. The study aims to collect data on the diagnosis, treatment and effects of these diseases in order to generate new scientific findings.
STEP 2.0
The STEP registry records information about very rare tumours in children and adolescents that has not yet been recorded in treatment studies or other registries.
UMBRELLA SIOP-RTSG 2016
This study aims to standardise a high-quality diagnosis of kidney cancer throughout Europe and beyond.
Studies in preparation
Ewing's sarcomas are solid malignant tumours that usually occur in bone. The study aims to improve the treatment for patients with Ewing's sarcoma.
Neuroblastoma is a cancer in children that manifests itself as nodules or tumors in the abdomen or near the spinal cord. In over 50 percent of cases, the cancer returns after treatment or does not respond to the initial treatment. The prognosis for these young patients is then unfavorable. The BEACON2 study is comparing new therapy combinations to improve survival in this situation.
Soft tissue tumours develop in the fat, muscle, and connective tissues of the body. The aim of this research project is to find out more about the cause and behaviour of these rare tumours in children and young adults. The researchers will then use the findings to improve the future treatment of patients with soft tissue tumours.
Soft tissue sarcomas develop in the soft tissue of the body, such as muscles, fat tissue or ligaments. In the SoTiSaR 2.0-NIS registry, researchers collect and analyse data from patients with soft tissue sarcoma. The data collection makes it possible to gain new insights into the disease and its course as well as the prognosis, aftercare, late effects and quality of life
Studies in the field of brain and spinal cord cancer
Brain tumours are the main cause of cancer-related deaths in children. When treating brain tumours, lots of things need to be considered: the type of tumour, the child's age and the possible side effects of treatment play an important role. Most brain tumours require surgery and a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The prognosis often depends on the biology of the tumour, so it's important to carry out research in this field to understand the causes of brain tumours better. Researchers are examining the genetic defects that cause brain tumours, and the environment in which the tumours grow. Based on their findings, new treatments will be developed that could minimise side effects and improve the prognosis.
I-HIT-MED Registry
The I-HIT-MED registry records patients with rare brain or spinal cord tumours. These are medulloblastomas, ependymal and pineal region tumours, as well as other rare tumours.
KRANIOPHARYNGEOM Registry 2019
The aim is to research the biology of tumours or unusual malformations in the vicinity of the pituitary gland. These malformations originate from tissue whose development was already abnormal before birth. This study should result in a greater understanding of why such diseases develop and how their treatment could be improved in future.
LOGGIC Core
The aim of this study is to research and better understand the biology of less aggressive brain tumours, known as low-grade gliomas, in children and adolescents.
MNP2.0
The genetic data (DNA) of brain tumours are being described using molecular analysis techniques to enable childhood cancers of the nervous system to be diagnosed more precisely, supplementing conventional pathological examination.
SIOP Ependymoma II
The aim of the SIOP Ependymoma II study is to improve the treatment of malignant brain tumours called ependymomas in children and adolescents. Since the prognosis for this disease is unfavourable, it is vitally important to find suitable, specific treatment that is tailored to the location, size and stage of the tumour.
SIOP High-Risk Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a particular sort of brain tumour that mainly occurs in children. A high-risk medulloblastoma is an aggressive tumour that spreads rapidly and is difficult to treat. The aim of the study is to find suitable therapy options, in order to improve the chances of survival and the prospects of a cure.
SIOPE ATRT01
Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumours (ATRT) are rare, highly aggressive tumours of the central nervous system that primarily affect very young children under two years of age. This study compares various therapy options to find the most effective treatment with the fewest side effects.
Studies in preparation
Medulloblastoma, ependymoma and ATRT (atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour) are malignant brain and spinal cord tumours. If these tumours continue to grow despite treatment or recur after treatment, the affected children and adolescents have an unfavourable prognosis. The aim of the MEMMAT clinical trial is to find further treatment options for young patients with these types of tumours.
This study aims to improve the classification of brain tumours in children by means of the additional testing of tissue samples. This should enable the disease to be diagnosed more precisely, which is of crucial importance for selecting the right therapy.
Medulloblastoma is a malignant brain tumour that mainly occurs in children. The YCMB-LR study compares two treatment concepts in children with medulloblastoma in terms of late-effects. In particular, it will also investigate the effects of treatment on cognitive functions such as thinking, learning and language.
Studies in the field of treatment-resistent and recurrent cancer
Although the chances of recovery from childhood cancer are, on average, very good, one child still dies of cancer in Switzerland almost every week because they have suffered a relapse or their treatment is no longer effective. To change this situation, the following studies are focusing on developing new therapeutic approaches to further improve the survival chances for children with cancer.
INFORM
This study aims to collect information about changes in genetic information from patients with a recurrent or therapy-resistant cancer, irrespective of the type of tumour. This information can then be used to offer or develop targeted treatments for patients.
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