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Much of the research going on in the area of Wilms tumor is
coordinated by the Children's Oncology Group (COG), whose main goal is
to improve the treatment and quality of life of children with Wilms
tumor and other types of cancer. COG is a large group of doctors,
nurses, scientists, and other health professionals whose hard work has
already saved the lives of thousands of children with Wilms tumor. Ask
your child's doctor if he or she works with this group.
Biology of Wilms tumors
Research is continuing to unravel the mystery of how changes
in certain genes cause Wilms tumors. Because different genes seem to be
involved, this might be related to how aggressive certain tumors are
likely to be.
As doctors have learned how to treat Wilms tumors more
effectively, they have begun to look for ways to determine which
children might be spared from more intensive treatment. They are also
looking to for ways to identify children who might need more aggressive
treatment to be cured. For example, in recent years, studies have shown
that Wilms tumors with certain changes on chromosomes 1 or 16 seem to
be more likely to recur after initial treatment. Doctors are now
studying whether children with such tumors might benefit from more
intensive treatment.
Treatment of Wilms tumors
Clinical trials continue to study ways to improve treatment
for children with Wilms tumors. Earlier studies identified treatments
that were very effective in curing Wilms tumors with the most favorable
histology. Current clinical trials are studying ways to treat these
cancers successfully while reducing side effects as much as possible.
For example, studies are looking at whether young children with very
favorable outlooks need any treatment other than surgery.
Many studies are looking to improve upon current chemotherapy
treatments. For example, recent studies from Europe suggest that in
some cases chemotherapy may not need to be continued as long as
previously thought.
The outlook for patients with Wilms tumors with unfavorable
histology is not as good, and the Children's Oncology Group is
continuing to study more intensive and more effective treatments for
these children. Newer chemotherapy drugs such as topotecan and
irinotecan are now under study.
Other studies are looking at bone marrow or peripheral blood
stem cell transplants, which let doctors give higher doses of
chemotherapy than the body normally could tolerate. This approach might
help treat tumors that are not responding to standard treatments or
that would otherwise have a poor prognosis.
Last Medical Review: 09/14/2009
Last Revised: 09/14/2009
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