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Growth hormone and targeted oncological agents: Are we stopping children with brain tumours from reaching their true height potential?
Author(s) -
Walker Hannah,
Khuong Quang Dong Anh,
Campbell Martin,
Bhatia Kanika,
Williams Molly,
Sullivan Michael,
Eisenstat David D,
Kao KungTing,
Ng Jessica,
White Mary,
Zacharin Margaret,
Hansford Jordan R
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.15607
Subject(s) - medicine , hormone , oncology , targeted therapy , growth hormone , bioinformatics , hormone therapy , cancer , cancer research , breast cancer , biology
Children with low‐grade gliomas have excellent long‐term survival outcomes. The development of therapies targeted to the driver mutations along the Mitogen Activated Protein (MAP) kinase signalling pathway are providing long‐term stability for many patients with these tumours. Given the frequency of these tumours residing within or near the suprasellar region, our patients commonly suffer from hormone deficiencies. In Australia, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme currently restricts growth hormone therapy to patients who are not being actively treated for cancer, including those receiving targeted therapies. This viewpoint hopes to facilitate an important discussion amongst our colleagues as to whether this should be changed to allow growth hormone to become available to children on chronic tumour suppressive therapy.