Improving Incidence Identification and Treatment of Neuroblastoma in Low and Middle Income Countries

In high-income countries (HIC), cancer is the leading cause of death from illness among children and young adults and the third most common cause of potential years of life lost after breast and lung cancer. Fortunately, over the last 20-30 years, survival rates following a pediatric cancer diagnosis have increased to 80% in HICs. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, accounting for 10% of childhood cancers in HICs, with only a nascent understanding of incidence in LMICs. Dr. Matthay and her team are collaborating on two LMIC projects related to neuroblastoma.

1) Global Neuroblastoma Network (GNN): A network to promote a weekly on-line neuroblastoma tumor board and education sessions (hosted on St. Jude website), and to establish an international registry and standard-of-care protocols and staging for resource limited countries. International experts are invited periodically to provide education. The network is partially supported by a foundation that helps fund data management and biennial international meetings.

2) High-risk neuroblastoma protocol in Morocco: A protocol adapted to Morocco, with IRB approval and accrual beginning in 2012, promoting central data collection and a uniform staging, induction and intensification as possible for high-risk neuroblastoma. The protocol has thus far facilitated a more standard approach to induction and staging, access to better staging, and capacity development for peripheral blood stem cell harvest and transplant. 

Publications: 

Salman Z, El Kababri M, Hessissen L, Khattab M, Matthay K. An Intensive Induction Protocol for High Risk Neuroblastoma in Morocco. Journal of Global Oncology. 2016 Jun; 2(3_suppl):80s-1s. DOI: 10.1200/JGO.2016.004267.

Parikh NS, Howard SC, Chantada G, Israels T, Khattab M, Alcasabas P, Lam CG, Faulkner L, Park JR, London WB, Matthay KK. SIOP-PODC adapted risk stratification and treatment guidelines: Recommendations for neuroblastoma in low- and middle-income settings. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015 Aug;62(8):1305-16. PMID: 25810263.

Kersten E, Scanlan P, Dubois SG, Matthay KK. Current treatment and outcome for childhood acute leukemia in Tanzania. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2013 Dec; 60(12):2047-53. PMID: 24039163

Depasse J, Caniza MA, Quessar A, Khattab M, Hessissen L, Ribeiro R, Cherkaoui S, Benchekroun S, Matthay KK. Infections in hospitalized children and young adults with acute leukemia in Morocco.Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2013 Jun;60(6):916-22. PMID: 23450753.

Cohler C, Jumanne S, Kaijage J, DuBois SG, Scanlan P, Matthay KK. Cohler C, Jumanne S, Kaijage J, DuBois SG, Scanlan P, Matthay KK. Evaluation and Outcome of Central Nervous System Involvement in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016 Mar; 63(3):458-64. PMID: 26529141

Balkin EM, Thompson D, Colson KE, Lam CG, Matthay KK. Physician Perspectives on Palliative Care for Children With Neuroblastoma: An International Context. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2016 May; 63(5):872-9. PMID: 26784890