Among a cohort of British survivors of childhood cancer, excess mortality from second primary cancers and circulatory diseases continued to occur beyond 25 years from diagnosis.
Childhood and young adult cancer survivors should receive optimum care to reduce the consequences of late effects and improve quality of life. We can facilitate achieving this goal by international collaboration in guideline development. In 2010 the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group was initiated. The aim of the harmonization endeavor is to establish a common vision and integrated strategy for the surveillance of late effects in childhood and young adult cancer survivors. With the implementation of our evidence-based methods we provide a framework for the harmonization of guidelines for the long-term follow-up of childhood and young adult cancer survivors.
Although there are high survival rates for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, their outcome is often counterbalanced by the burden of toxic eff ects. This is because reported frequencies vary widely across studies, partly because of diverse defi nitions of toxic eff ects. Using the Delphi method, 15 international childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia study groups assessed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia protocols to address toxic eff ects that were to be considered by the Ponte di Legno working group. 14 acute toxic eff ects (hypersensitivity to asparaginase, hyperlipidaemia, osteonecrosis, asparaginase-associated pancreatitis, arterial hypertension, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, seizures, depressed level of consciousness, methotrexate-related stroke-like syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, high-dose methotrexate-related nephrotoxicity, sinusoidal obstructive syndrome, thrombo embolism, and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia) that are serious but too rare to be addressed comprehensively within any single group, or are deemed to need consensus defi nitions for reliable incidence comparisons, were selected for assessment. Our results showed that none of the protocols addressed all 14 toxic eff ects, that no two protocols shared identical defi nitions of all toxic eff ects, and that no toxic eff ect defi nition was shared by all protocols. Using the Delphi method over three face-to-face plenary meetings, consensus defi nitions were obtained for all 14 toxic eff ects. In the overall assessment of outcome of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treatment, these expert opinion-based defi nitions will allow reliable comparisons of frequencies and severities of acute toxic eff ects across treatment protocols, and facilitate international research on cause, guidelines for treatment adaptation, preventive strategies, and development of consensus algorithms for reporting on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia treatment.
Treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery that involves reproductive organs can cause impaired spermatogenesis, testosterone deficiency, and physical sexual dysfunction in male pubertal, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. Guidelines for surveillance and management of potential adverse effects could improve cancer survivors' health and quality of life. Surveillance recommendations vary considerably, causing uncertainty about optimum screening practices. This clinical practice guideline recommended by the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group in collaboration with the PanCareSurFup Consortium, developed using evidence-based methodology, critically synthesises surveillance recommendations for gonadotoxicity in male childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivors. The recommendations were developed by an international multidisciplinary panel including 25 experts in relevant medical specialties, using a consistent and transparent process. Recommendations were graded according to the strength of underlying evidence and potential benefit gained by early detection and appropriate management. The aim of the recommendations is to enhance evidence-based care for male CAYA cancer survivors. The guidelines reveal the paucity of high-quality evidence, highlighting the need for further targeted research.
Increased understanding of the interindividual variability in the extent and nature of ifosfamide metabolism, which may be a major determinant of susceptibility to renal damage, may lead to improved use of the drug with less nephrotoxicity.
The harmonized set of POI surveillance recommendations is intended to be scientifically rigorous, to positively influence health outcomes, and to facilitate the care for female survivors of CAYA cancer.
Summary
Female childhood, adolescent and young adult (CAYA) cancer survivors treated with radiation to fields that include breast tissue (chest radiation) have an increased risk of breast cancer. Clinical practice guidelines are essential to ensure that these survivors receive optimum care, and thereby reduce the detrimental consequences of cancer treatment. However, surveillance recommendations vary among the existing long-term follow-up guidelines. This guideline provides international harmonized breast cancer surveillance recommendations for female CAYA cancer survivors treated with chest radiation prior to age 30 years. We applied evidence-based methods to develop the international harmonized recommendations. The recommendations were formulated by an international multidisciplinary guideline panel and categorized according to a 4-level colour grading schema adapted from existing level of evidence criteria. The harmonized breast cancer surveillance recommendations are based on a transparent process and are intended to be scientifically rigorous, positively influence health outcomes, and facilitate care for CAYA cancer survivors.
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