Interesting paper from the Annals of Oncology and covered in PharmaTimes on how access to clinical trials has led to better outcomes for children with cancer.  The data relates to clinical trial activity promoted by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group.  A direct quote from the article says:

“Between 1966 and 1970 just 28% of young patients diagnosed with cancer survived for five years, but jumping forward to those diagnosed during 1996-2000, and this figure has rocketed to 77%. Looking at data from more than 25,000 children in the first analysis of population-based survival in relation to open clinical trials, the authors found that the annual reduction in risk of death ranged from 2.7% for rhabdomyosarcoma to 12.0% for gonadal germ cell tumours.”

This also gives me an excuse to mention the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) ‘Turning the Tide’ initiative which is aimed at strengthening child health research activity.  It is launching a report on 20th November 2012 and I’m off to learn more about where this important work has got too, later next month.