Pediatric patients are genetically prone to cancer benefit from early surveillance
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital shared on LinkedIn:
“Research shows that pediatric patients genetically prone to cancer benefit from early surveillance.
A compelling case is raised to advocate for early and regular surveillance in children with genetic predispositions to cancer in a study recently published in JAMA Oncology, Kim Nichols, MD, St. Jude Division of Cancer Predisposition director, Department of Oncology, with colleagues Alise Blake and Melissa Perrino.
Nichols provides a deeper look into the importance of early tumor detection for achieving the best outcomes in young patients.
The study discovered that early intervention often detects asymptomatic, early-stage tumors, sometimes even during the initial testing phase or within two years of starting surveillance.
This is significant because early-stage tumors are typically more treatable and can be completely removed through surgery, improving the chances of successful outcomes.
The research supports the effectiveness of current screening methods and recommends that healthcare providers should begin surveillance immediately upon identifying a cancer-predisposing syndrome, without waiting for patients to complete therapy for prior cancers.
This approach could appreciably improve early detection and treatment success.
The implications of this study extend beyond clinical practice. It can be challenging for providers to get insurances companies to pay for early screenings.
This study may be the start to providing insurance companies with the evidence needed to cover the tests for children with a predisposition, to ensure that these vital screenings are accessible for families who need them.
Nichols looks forward to including a wider range of patients in this study and exploring the psychological impacts of surveillance.
Read the full study for more insights.”