Closing the survival gap: implementation of medulloblastoma protocols in a low-income country through a twinning program.
Successful twinning initiatives have been reported in childhood leukemia. Pediatric neuro-oncology requires a complex multidisciplinary approach and the feasibility of similar twinning programs is unknown. Twinning between King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto started with e-mail communications, and subsequently included monthly videoconferences and exchanges between institutions. The outcome of 35 newly diagnosed medulloblastoma patients (22 high-risk and 13 average-risk) treated during this period is reported. The 3-year overall survival for average risk and high-risk patients was 100 and 81%, respectively. This experience suggests that twinning may facilitate the implementation of multidisciplinary neuro-oncology programs in low-income countries. Videoconferencing allows interactive exchanges with a significant learning impact.
Qaddoumi
Ibrahim
I
International Outreach Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. lbrahim.Qaddoumi@stjude.org
Musharbash
Awni
A
Elayyan
Maher
M
Mansour
Asem
A
Al-Hussaini
Maysa
M
Drake
James
J
Swaidan
Maisa
M
Bartels
Ute
U
Bouffet
Eric
E
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007391:International Cooperation; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017741:Survivors