Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 S20.5 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.S20.5

ECE2015 Symposia Endocrine consequences of childhood cancer treatment (5 abstracts)

Secondary cancers in childhood cancer survivors

Raoul Reulen


University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.


Due to marked advances in curative therapy for childhood cancer – mainly the introduction of modern chemotherapy in the 1960s – the 5-year survival rate after childhood cancer has substantially improved over the last few decades from less than 30% in the 1960s to currently over 80%. As a result of these improved survival rates, a large and ever growing number of childhood cancer survivors have reached adulthood. A major concern following treatment of childhood cancer is the increased long-term risk of second primary cancers. Treatment with radiotherapy and – although to a lesser extent – specific chemotherapeutic agents have been associated with an increased risk of developing second primary cancers.

This presentation will provide an overview of the evidence from previous studies that have investigated the risks of second primary cancers in survivors of childhood cancer. Particular attention will be given to the extent to which the risks of second primary cancer varies by type of childhood cancer and to what extent the risk varies by attained age and time since childhood cancer diagnosis. More survivors are now reaching an age at which in the general population the risk of common cancer increases. This implies that even a small increased risk relative to that observed in the general population could lead to a substantial excess number of survivors of childhood being diagnosed with a second primary cancer. Understanding the long-term risks of second primary cancers is crucial because it provides a basis for counselling long-term survivors, planning future clinical follow-up and deciding on new treatment protocols with the ultimate aim of reducing the risks of developing second primary cancers without compromising the currently achieved 5-year survival rates.

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.

My recently viewed abstracts