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Global issues and opportunities for optimized retinoblastoma care
Author(s) -
Gallie Brenda L.,
Zhao Junyang,
Vandezande Kirk,
White Abigail,
Chan Helen S. L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.21350
Subject(s) - retinoblastoma , medicine , malignancy , blood cancer , pediatrics , pediatric cancer , intensive care medicine , cancer , gene , genetics , biology
The RB1 gene is important in all human cancers. Studies of human retinoblastoma point to a rare retinal cell with extreme dependency on RB1 for initiation but not progression to full malignancy. In developed countries, genetic testing within affected families can predict children at high risk of retinoblastoma before birth; chemotherapy with local therapy often saves eyes and vision; and mortality is 4%. In less developed countries where 92% of children with retinoblastoma are born, mortality reaches 90%. Global collaboration is building for the dramatic change in mortality that awareness, simple expertise and therapies could achieve in less developed countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;49:1083–1090. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.