Can Canada sustain paediatric phase I trials? A national survey of cancer relapse in children.
BACKGROUND
Paediatric phase I trials are critical to the evaluation of new agents using standardized methodology. However a large proportion of paediatric patients in Canada do not have access to phase I therapy.


OBJECTIVE
A National Paediatric Cancer Relapse Survey was conducted to collect preliminary data to evaluate the feasibility of multi-centre paediatric phase I trials within Canada.


METHODS
A survey consisting of 20 individual questions was sent out to all of the 17 paediatric oncology centres in Canada.


RESULTS
Fifteen centres (88%) responded to the survey. 1027 children are diagnosed with cancer each year in Canada while 241 present with recurrent cancer. Of the 85 patients who are considered to be eligible for phase I study each year, only 53% were referred for phase I therapy. Two centres have more than 10 eligible patients a year, while the remaining 13 centres have less than 10 eligible patients each year.


CONCLUSIONS
We estimate that 20% of the eligible patients could be accrued to phase I trials and Canada may provide sufficient patient number, i.e. 25 to 30 solid tumour patients every 2 years, to allow one multi-centre paediatric phase I trial to be completed over a 2-year period.
Lau
Loretta
L
Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital of Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Baruchel
Sylvain
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D010372:Pediatrics
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents