Future of children with cancer

The outlook for children with cancer has improved considerably in the past two decades. More than half these children are now cured of malignant disease. Long-term survival has revealed late effects, of which some examples and possible ways to avoid them are given. Advances in treatment will come from a better understanding of the pathology of these tumours as well as improvement in radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. It is likely that the more resistant tumours will have to be treated with entirely novel therapeutic programmes. Cytogenetics may hold valuable clues as to the aetiology of these tumours, and possibly eventually to their therapy.