Bookmark this page or recommend it.

Representing seven to eight per cent of all infant cancers ,neuroblastoma is the second most common malignant entity in children. Originating from the autonomous nerve tissues, the embryonic neural crest, the tumours’ cells (i.e. neuroblasts) remain in an immature state. The tumour is found mainly in the adrenal body, along the spinal column, in the head and neck region as well as in the chest, abdominal  and pelvic region. Approximately seventy percent of the tumour is present outside the abdominal cavity, in the retroperitoneal space, and around 20 per cent are found in the lung lobes in the mediastinum.

An important concern of CIO is the multi-professional treatment of infants and children under 18 years old, according to the most current treatment protocols. In conjunction with this, patients are enrolled in 21 therapy-optimisation clinical trials conducted by the Society for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (GPOH). The GPOH’s reference pathology guarantees constant quality assurance. The scientific focus of the IOP Neuroblastoma are national therapy optimisation studies, a central tumour bank, early detection project and molecular analysis of tumour tissue. It should be noted that more or less all patients diagnosed with neuroblastoma in Germany are treated according to the therapy-optimisation clinical trial managed from Köln. 

Significant new innovative activities of the Köln based working group include:  

• Definition of a new classification system for the risk group classification of neuroblastoma patients (Oberthür A, et al, J Clin Oncol 2006, 24:5070-8)
• German publications on the benefit of radiation therapy in neuroblastoma ((Simon T, et al, Strahlenther Onkol 2006, 182: 387-4) 
• Publication on systematic spontaneous recurrence ((Hero B, et al, J Clin Oncol 2008, 26:1504-10).

Interdisciplinary treatment guidelines were already published in 2006 (Therapieprotokolle, Urban und Fischer-Verlag, Zuckschwerdt-Verlag) All patients are treated according to the GBA recommendation for paediatric oncology (16.05.2006).

The Department of Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Köln, has weekly Tumour Board meetings for brain tumours (Fridays 15:00). This group is open to all interested clinical specialists. The date for the next project group meeting or more information can be obtained from Professor Frank Berthold. In Bonn, please use the “Enquiry” button.

Personal Profile:

Professor Frank Berthold

• Deputy Chair, Society for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (GPOH).
• International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP).
• Advances of Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA, President 2006-2008)
• National Cancer Institute (USA) Advisor Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP)

> Back