Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer that manifests as lumps or tumours in the abdomen or in the vicinity of the spinal cord. If the cancer spreads throughout the body or has certain biological properties, it may become difficult to treat in children and adolescents.
The specialists refer to such cases as high-risk neuroblastoma. In Switzerland about 5-6 patients a year are victims of this disease.
The current standard treatment consists of various phases. The aim of this study is to define the best therapeutic strategy for improving the chances of cure in children and adolescents with high-risk neuroblastoma. For this purpose, the study compares two treatments in each of the various phases to find out which is the most effective and is best tolerated.
The Gustave Roussy institute in France is responsible for the international implementation of the study (sponsor). The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is responsible for performing the study in Switzerland (sponsor’s representative).
In short
- The study is investigating the treatment of neuroblastomas, embryonal tumours that occur predominantly in very early childhood.
- If the tumours spread throughout the body or have certain biological properties, they may be very difficult to treat nowadays despite intensive strategies.
- The study is comparing various chemotherapies and radiotherapies in order to find out what treatment is most effective and thus improve the prospects of recovery for those affected.
