Childhood Leukemia: Present Problems and Future Prospects

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Biology of Childhood Leukemia

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Etiological Mechanisms in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

      • Melvyn F. Greaves, Li Chong Chan, Anthony M. Ford, Susan M. Pegram, Leanne M. Wiedemann

      Pages 3-22

   3. The Effects of Hemopoietic Factors on Stem Cells in In Vitro

      • Makio Ogawa, Kenji Kishi, Jing Ping Shih

      Pages 23-31

   4. Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Hematopoiesis

      • Kenichi Harigaya

      Pages 33-41

   5. Gene Transfer Investigations of Oncogenes Activated by Chromosomal Translocations in Human Lymphomas and Leukemias: BCL2 and C-MYC

      • John C. Reed, Michael P. Cuddy, Subrata Haldar, Carlo Croce, Peter Nowell, David Makover et al.

      Pages 43-50

   6. Molecular Studies of Chromosomal Translocations in Childhood Leukemias

      • Michael L. Cleary

      Pages 51-58

   7. Molecular Analysis of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

      • Yasuhide Hayashi, Susana C. Raimondi, A. Thomas Look

      Pages 59-68

   8. Immunological Properties of Hematopoietic Malignancies in Childhood

      • Junichiro Fujimoto, Nobutaka Kiyokawa, Hiroo Fujita, Kazumi Imai, Yoshie Matsubayashi, Yasuo Kokai et al.

      Pages 69-76

   9. Polymerase Chain Reaction Studies on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemias and Detection of Residual Ph1 Clone after Bone Marrow Transplantation

      • Shuki Mizutani, Kozue Nakamura, Toshiyuki Miyashita, Miwako Ozaki, Kouichi Miyamura’, Takao Matsuei’ et al.

      Pages 77-86

   10. Lineage-Specific Classification of Childhood Leukemia and its Clinical Implications

       • Keisei Kawa-Ha, Akio Tawa, Keiko Yumura-Yagi, Junichi Hara, Shigehiko Ishihara

       Pages 87-93

3. Epidemiology of Childhood Leukemia

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95

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   2. The Epidemiology of Leukemia: Results from the Manchester Children’s Tumour Registry

      • Jillian M. Birch, Valerie Blair

      Pages 97-106

   3. Contribution of Japan Children’s Cancer Registry to Medical Research and Care of Childhood Leukemia and Related Conditions

      • Noboru Kobayashi

      Pages 107-117

   4. Long-Term Survivors of Leukemia and Late Effects: A Report from the Registry of Long-Term Survivors of Children’s Cancer of Japan

      • Fumio Bessho

      Pages 119-126

4. Treatment of Childhood Leukemia

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 127-127

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   2. Therapy of Childhood Leukemia: Understanding Success and Failure

      • Joseph V. Simone, Gaston K. Rivera, A. Thomas Look, William M. Crist

      Pages 129-134

   3. Results and Significance of Six Randomized Trials in Four Consecutive ALL-BFM Studies

      • Hansjörg Riehm

      Pages 135-147

   4. Pharmacokinetics of Commonly used Anti-Leukemic agents in Children

      • W. Archie Bleyer, David G. Poplack, Frank M. Balis

      Pages 149-155

   5. Treatment of Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia in the Children’s Cancer and Leukemia Study Group

      • Masanori Yanai, Yoshiro Tsuji, Takeo Fujimoto

      Pages 157-165

Twenty years ago when Children's Cancer Association of Japan was born, the diagnosis of childhood leukemia amounted to a death sentence. Only 20% or so of children with leukemia survived more than 5 years. Since then, enormous improvements have been achieved regarding our understanding on the etiology, diagnosis, and the treatment of childhood leukemia. Now, 70% of children with leukemia survive and enter adult life. Even though the improved survival rate of children with leukemia represents a medical success story, we now face new problems. The first problem is the fact that we still lose 20-30% of patients with childhood leukemia. To address this problem, we need to understand the etiology, epidemiology, and biology of leukemia; to identify the patients at greater risk; and to develop adequate treatments. The second problem is the treatment itself. Even though efficacious, the modem treatment for leukemia is a grueling experience for children and their families. We should develop a total care system for families and children based on a deep understanding of their needs. The third problem is the aftereffects of the treatment and of cured leukemia. Extensive radiation and chemotherapy have an entirely different spectrum of long-term effects on children than on adults. These treatments in the early stage of life, when the mind and body are developing, create many physical and psychological problems. These are the present problems of childhood leukemia.

• bone marrow
• cancer
• cell
• classification
• leukemia
• lymphoma
• stem cell
• transplantation
• tumor

'Overall I found this an interesting collection of papers which well summarises the studies made in the treatment of children with cancer between the first and second symposia. It would be a worthwhile volume to have on the shelves of one's library and is relatively up to date despite the 2 year lag between meeting and publication.' Australian Cancer Society 16:2 1992

• National Children’s Hospital, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154, Japan

  Noboru Kobayashi

• The National Children’s Hospital Medical Research Center, Tokyo, Japan

  Tai Akera

• Department of Virology, The National Children’s Medical Research Center, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154, Japan

  Shuki Mizutani

Policies and ethics