Liver cancer is rare in childhood and adolescence and is usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. The chance of recovery is between 50 and 100% depending on the characteristics of the disease.
Patients who have recovered from liver cancer can suffer from severe long-term complications of the intensive chemotherapy such as loss of hearing, heart problems and secondary cancers. About three children and adolescents are affected by this disease in Switzerland every year and can participate in the PHITT study.
The aim of the PHITT trial is to find better treatment strategies that improve not only patients’ prognosis but also their quality of life. The trial is therefore investigating whether personalised therapy is possible by assigning patients to different treatment groups according to the extent of their disease. Patients with a good prognosis will be studied to see whether less chemotherapy can reduce side effects while still curing the disease. At the same time, an attempt will be made to improve the cure rate and survival in patients with aggressive forms of the disease, in whom the current therapy is less effective.
The data compiled during this trial will be used to investigate the side effects of treatment and the biological aspects of the cancer. Cell markers that can be used in diagnostic and prognostic tests for children and young adults in the future will be sought. In addition, the data will be used to improve surgical techniques for the removal of liver tumours and gain a better understanding of how the body handles current therapies.
The University of Birmingham in the UK is responsible for the international implementation of the trial (sponsor). The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is responsible for performing the trial in Switzerland (sponsor representative).
In short
-
This study is investigating how the treatment of children and adolescents with liver cancer can be improved.
-
Patients who have recovered from liver cancer can have severe long-term complications from the intensive chemotherapy, including secondary illnesses, hearing impairment and kidney damage. The study is needed to improve this state of affairs.
-
The aim of this study is to find better treatment strategies to improve not only the chances of recovery, but also the quality of life of the patients.
