Children’s and young people’s cancers – the Government must turn momentum into action
How the National Cancer plan can make a difference for children and young people affected by cancer. The post Children’s and young people’s cancers – the Government must turn momentum into action appeared first on Cancer Research UK - Cancer News .
The UK government recently unveiled its National Cancer Plan, a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving cancer treatment and research in England. As the new administration takes charge of implementing this plan, it is crucial that they prioritize children's and young people's cancers and translate these commitments into tangible improvements for those affected.
Dr Steve John and Dr Laura Danielson, experts in the field, stress the need to transform growing policy attention into meaningful action through enhanced clinical trial delivery, stronger collaboration, and a clear long-term research strategy and investment.
Recent years have witnessed promising advancements in personalized care and treatment for children and young people with cancer, as well as ambitious collaborations to unravel the unique biology of these cancers. This progress was further validated by the inclusion of a dedicated chapter on children's and young people's cancers in the National Cancer Plan and the enactment of the Rare Cancers Act in March.
While these developments signal a positive shift in focus, the real challenge lies in capitalizing on this momentum to bring about tangible change.
The National Cancer Plan acknowledges the systemic barriers that have hindered progress in children's and young people's cancer care and research. Limited availability, access, and visibility to clinical trials, coupled with insufficient collaboration among researchers, present significant obstacles. These challenges are not new but their persistence highlights the gap between recognizing issues and resolving them.
The plan signals the right direction, but it falls short of outlining a concrete roadmap for overcoming these barriers.
One of the most pressing issues is the underrepresentation of teenagers and young adults in clinical trials. Restrictive eligibility criteria, age limits, logistical challenges, and financial barriers contribute to this exclusion, limiting the evidence base for using cutting-edge treatments in young people. The National Cancer Plan aims to rectify this by committing to remove arbitrary age limits and supporting international trials.
However, the success of this initiative hinges on the precise implementation of these measures, as mere intent will not suffice. Structural barriers must be actively dismantled to increase participation in clinical trials.
The Plan acknowledges progress in this area, citing the initiative IMPACCT (Initiative for Multistakeholder Partnership to Accelerate Children's Clinical Trials), led by Solving Kids Cancer, which aims to tackle barriers to clinical trials. Additionally, the Experimental Cancer Medicines Centres' paediatric network, coordinated and co-funded by the Little Princess Trust and the health departments of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, provides vital infrastructure for running early-phase clinical trials aimed at getting new drugs to children and young people with cancer.
Rapid advancements in genomics, such as improved diagnosis and personalized treatments, hold promise for some children and young people with cancer. However, consistent access to these technologies across the UK remains inconsistent, and without proper investment in infrastructure, workforce, and equitable provision, these innovations may widen existing inequalities.
Written by urgent.news from Cancer Research UK's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
