PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — In what is hailed as a milestone in pediatric oncology, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) has released the first-ever treatment recommendations for neuroblastoma. This rare form of solid tumor cancer, typically diagnosed in children under five, accounts for hundreds of new cases each year. Despite advancements leading to survival rates over 90% for lower-risk patients, high-risk cases have remained a formidable challenge.
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that develops from immature nerve cells found in various areas of the body, most commonly in the abdomen, chest, or near the spine. It is the most common solid tumor cancer in children and accounts for approximately 7% of all childhood cancers.
Its diverse biological and clinical manifestations make neuroblastoma a particularly complex disease to address. The freshly minted NCCN Guidelines® aims to arm clinicians in their fight against neuroblastoma by delivering crucial insights into risk stratification and current therapeutic strategies.
“The NCCN Guidelines were designed to assist clinicians caring for children with neuroblastoma by summarizing the data that have enabled the current approaches to therapy,” remarked Dr. Rochelle Bagatell from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She also promised continuous updates to the guidelines in line with new clinical trial results and evolving therapies.
Dr. Bagatell will be presenting an online session highlighting the latest developments in neuroblastoma treatment as part of the NCCN 2024 Annual Conference.
A groundbreaking feature of these guidelines is the multi-disciplinary care approach they propose, incorporating surgery, radiation, and a range of chemotherapy options. “These new NCCN Guidelines for Neuroblastoma provide a platform for understanding this complicated disease and determining individual treatment categories,” explained Dr. Julie R. Park from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
With this latest addition, the NCCN now offers 87 comprehensive guidelines covering nearly every cancer type, prevention, screening, and supportive care. The guidelines for neuroblastoma are the sixth targeted specifically at pediatric cancer.
The NCCN Guidelines® have built a reputation for delivering treatment advice that has improved patient outcomes across multiple cancer varieties. Created by a multidisciplinary panel of experts, these recommendations are updated annually and used extensively by healthcare providers across the U.S. and globally.
A key concern of the panel is minimizing treatment where possible, explained Dr. Park, elaborating that the guidelines contain a wealth of information on diagnosis, molecular drivers, and aspects of immunotherapy.
Long-term effects of neuroblastoma treatment can include growth impairment, fertility issues, hearing problems, and organ dysfunction. The NCCN publishes additional guidelines focused on adolescent and young adult oncology, along with separate guidelines for survivorship, which provide insights to alleviate the long-term impact of treatment.
These pioneering neuroblastoma guidelines represent a step forward in our ongoing battle against pediatric cancer, bringing hope to hundreds of families and the dedicated healthcare providers that support them.
All NCCN Guidelines are available with a free account at NCCN.org or via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines® App.
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