Pediatric Leukemia, Psychosocial Dimensions of Cures, and Implications for HIV

Abstract

Although many aspects of HIV cure research in pediatric populations are entirely without precedent, historical examples demonstrate how curative interventions may transform clinical practice and perceptions of disease over time. The history of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) illustrates how the psychological and social dimensions of care became part and parcel of curative efforts. In particular, the tripartite concept of cure devised by physician and bioethicist Jan van Eys provides a framework for approaching curative research and clinical care in a pediatric population. As we slowly move toward an HIV cure, lessons learned from ALL and van Eys's work may help us implement such a cure more effectively in a pediatric context.