Mapping Pediatric Oncology Clinical Trial Collaborative Groups on the Global Stage

Abstract

PURPOSE The global pediatric oncology clinical research landscape, particularly in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, which bear the highest burden of global childhood cancer cases, is less characterized in the literature. Review of how existing pediatric cancer clinical trial groups internationally have been formed and how their research goals have been pursued is critical for building global collaborative research and data-sharing efforts, in line with the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. METHODS A narrative literature review of collaborative groups performing pediatric cancer clinical research in each continent was conducted. An inventory of research groups was assembled and reviewed by current pediatric cancer regional and continental leaders. Each group was narratively described with identification of common structural and research themes among consortia. RESULTS There is wide variability in the structure, history, and goals of pediatric cancer clinical trial collaborative groups internationally. Several continental regions have longstanding endogenously-formed clinical trial groups that have developed and published numerous adapted treatment regimens to improve outcomes, whereas other regions have consortia focused on developing foundational database registry infrastructure supported by large multinational organizations or twinning relationships. CONCLUSION There cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to increasing collaboration between international pediatric cancer clinical trial groups, as this requires a nuanced understanding of local stakeholders and resources necessary to form partnerships. Needs assessments, performed either by local consortia or in conjunction with international partners, have generated productive clinical trial infrastructure. To achieve the goals of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, global partnerships must be sufficiently granular to account for the distinct needs of each collaborating group and should incorporate grassroots approaches, robust twinning relationships, and implementation science.

How Can Genomic Innovations in Pediatric Brain Tumors Transform Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries?

“…Clinical trials (or at least standardized and audited treatment approaches) have many advantages to patients and their families; they generally result in better outcomes and allow standardized treatments with a view of improving outcomes. 44 There are relatively few published clinical trials in LMICs in comparison with HICs. This applies to both academic and commercial trials and is usually due to limited resources, with clinical trials being expensive to run.…”

International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Global Mapping Programme: Latin American Society of Pediatric Oncology (SLAOP) country‐level report

“…National and international cooperative groups for clinical research in Latin America have been extensively mapped elsewhere 26 . National groups that have performed pragmatic clinical research studies include Grupo Argentino de Tratamiento de Leucemias Agudas (GATLA) (Argentine Acute Leukemia Treatment Group) in Argentina and national societies such as SOBOPE (Brazil) or ACHOP (Colombia).…”

“…There are regional groups across Latin America such as GALOP, Consorcio Latinoamericano de Enfermedades Hematooncológicas Pediátricas (CLEHOP) (Latin American Hemato Oncologic Pediatric Diseases Consortium), and the Asociación de Hemato‐Oncología Pediátrica de Centro América (AHOPCA) (Pediatric Hemato‐Oncology Association of Central America) in Central America and the Caribbean. The group MAS (Mexico in Association with St Jude) includes 50 institutions and in collaboration with the Casa de la Amistad para Niños Con Cáncer (Friendship House for Children with Cancer) 26 …”

“…National and international cooperative groups for clinical research in Latin America have been extensively mapped elsewhere. 26…”

Harmonica consensus, controversies, and future directions in radiotherapy for pediatric Wilms tumors

“…Lack of good‐quality RT facilities is an important problem in LMICs. Machine functionality and human resource availability make high‐quality care and research studies far more difficult in LMICs than in high‐income countries 47,48 . RT standards for children in LMICs have been addressed by the SIOP‐PODC and Paediatric Radiation Oncology Society LMICs group 49 …”