Personalised medicine in paediatric oncology: Ethical practice outside the clinical trial framework?

Abstract

Modern paediatric oncology practice has rapidly evolved from a fatal condition at diagnosis in the 1940s to modern survival rates of over 80%. With the advent of the ‘omics’ era and modern diagnostics platforms, we can now determine many of the molecular driving mechanisms of malignancy. Current molecular diagnostics trials PRISM and AIM/MNP, open in Australia, allow accurate diagnosis and determination of the molecular drivers of many cancers leading to new targeted opportunities for treatment. Unfortunately, clinical trial support, development and drug access for children has lagged behind. This is leaving clinicians and their institutions with increasingly difficult medical and ethical decisions, further complicating an already demanding profession.