Cure and Care: Delicate Balance in Global Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia
“The mos t important factor determining whether a child diagnosed with cancer will survive is not the biology of the disease, but the country in wh ich the child is treated.” This reflects the profound global dispar ities in childhood cancer outcomes. While survival exceeds 80% in hig h-income countries, it often remains below 30% in low- and middle-inc ome countries, where most children with cancer live. This thesis focu ses on pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a malignant disorder o f the bone marrow with particularly poor outcomes in resource limited settings. Unfortunately, there is no simple cure for AML. Treating A ML requires a careful balance between anti-cancer treatment and suppo rtive care: delivering sufficiently intensive treatment to achieve cu re, while preventing treatment-related morbidity and mortality. This balance is highly context-dependent and shapes global survival differ ences. The studies presented provide a global perspective on pediatri c AML, identify new treatment strategies, and aim to enhance supporti ve care. By combining global perspectives with clinical and translati onal research, this thesis aims to contribute to more equitable, cont ext-appropriate, and ultimately curative strategies for children with AML worldwide.
More information on the thesis
DESCRIPTION: “The most important factor determining whether a child diagnosed with cancer will survive is not the biology of the disease, but the country in which the child is treated.” This reflects the profound global disparities in childhood cancer outcomes. While survi val exceeds 80% in high-income countries, it often remains below 30% in low- and middle-income countries, where most children with cancer live. This thesis focuses on pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a malignant disorder of the bone marrow with particularly poor outcom es in resource limited settings. Unfortunately, there is no simple cu re for AML. Treating AML requires a careful balance between anti-canc er treatment and supportive care: delivering sufficiently intensive t reatment to achieve cure, while preventing treatment-related morbidit y and mortality. This balance is highly context-dependent and shapes global survival differences. The studies presented provide a global p erspective on pediatric AML, identify new treatment strategies, and a im to enhance supportive care. By combining global perspectives with clinical and translational research, this thesis aims to contribute t o more equitable, context-appropriate, and ultimately curative strate gies for children with AML worldwide. More information on the the sis Cure and Care: Delicate Balance in Global Pediatric Acute Mye loid Leukemia END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR