Childhood Leukemia: Present Problems and Future Prospects : Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Children#x2019 ; s Cancer Tokyo, Japan, December 7-9, 1989

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. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Etiological Mechanisms in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia....Pages 3-22 The Effects of Hemopoietic Factors on Stem Cells in In Vitro ....Pages 23-31 Bone Marrow Stromal Cells and Hematopoiesis....Pages 33-41 Gene Transfer Investigations of Oncogenes Activated by Chromosomal Translocations in Human Lymphomas and Leukemias: BCL2 and C-MYC ....Pages 43-50 Molecular Studies of Chromosomal Translocations in Childhood Leukemias....Pages 51-58 Molecular Analysis of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia....Pages 59-68 Immunological Properties of Hematopoietic Malignancies in Childhood....Pages 69-76 Polymerase Chain Reaction Studies on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemias and Detection of Residual Ph1 Clone after Bone Marrow Transplantation....Pages 77-86 Lineage-Specific Classification of Childhood Leukemia and its Clinical Implications....Pages 87-93 Front Matter....Pages 95-95 The Epidemiology of Leukemia: Results from the Manchester Children’s Tumour Registry....Pages 97-106 Contribution of Japan Children’s Cancer Registry to Medical Research and Care of Childhood Leukemia and Related Conditions....Pages 107-117 Long-Term Survivors of Leukemia and Late Effects: A Report from the Registry of Long-Term Survivors of Children’s Cancer of Japan....Pages 119-126 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 Therapy of Childhood Leukemia: Understanding Success and Failure....Pages 129-134 Results and Significance of Six Randomized Trials in Four Consecutive ALL-BFM Studies....Pages 135-147 Pharmacokinetics of Commonly used Anti-Leukemic agents in Children....Pages 149-155 Treatment of Acute Nonlymphoblastic Leukemia in the Children’s Cancer and Leukemia Study Group....Pages 157-165 Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: the Results of the Tokyo Children’s Cancer Study Group L84-11 Treatment Protocol Study....Pages 167-177 Bone Marrow Transplantation in Children and Adolescents with Leukemia....Pages 179-183 Bone Marrow Transplantation in Children and Quality of Life in Long-Term Survivors....Pages 185-193 Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation for Children with Leukemia....Pages 195-201 Front Matter....Pages 127-127 Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Autografts in Children with Acute Leukemia and Lymphoma....Pages 203-211 Varied Problems Associated with Immunocompromised Hosts....Pages 213-222 Front Matter....Pages 223-223 Activities of the Children’s Cancer Association of Japan....Pages 225-229 Candlelighters: Parents and Caregivers, Friends and Allies, Working Together for Life....Pages 231-238 Who Helps Families of Children with Cancer? Parent and Patient Support in the U.K.....Pages 239-246 The Ronald Mcdonald House Program in the United States....Pages 247-250 Total Care of the Child with Cancer....Pages 251-258 Home Care for Children with Cancer....Pages 259-265 Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Children's Cancer and Childhood Leukemia -- Present Problems and Future Prospects, December 7-9, 1989