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Children's Oncology Group's 2013 blueprint for research: Epidemiology
Author(s) -
Spector Logan G.,
Ross Julie A.,
Olshan Andrew F.
Publication year - 2013
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.24434
Subject(s) - medicine , childhood cancer , cog , blueprint , epidemiology , etiology , cancer , pediatric cancer , population , clinical trial , oncology , pediatrics , environmental health , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , computer science , engineering
Investigators worldwide have for over 40 years conducted case–control studies aimed at determining the causes of childhood cancer. The central challenge to conducting such research is the rarity of childhood cancer, thus many studies aggregate cases through clinical trials organizations such as COG. Rarity also precludes the use of prospective study designs, which are less prone to recall and selection biases. Despite these challenges a substantial literature on childhood cancer etiology has emerged but few strong environmental risk factors have been identified. Genetic studies are thus now coming to the fore with some success. The ultimate aim of epidemiologic studies is to reduce the population burden of childhood cancer by suggesting preventive measures or possibly by enabling early detection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 1059–1062. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.