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More intensive chemotherapy can improve survival rates in young
patients with a nervous system cancer, according to research at a
Cambridgeshire hospital.

A 10-year-study at Addenbrooke's showed about 66% more children with
high-risk neuroblastoma survived.

Neuroblastoma affects children, mostly aged under five, with about 35
deaths in the UK each year.

The results of the trial have led to the roll out of the more rapid
chemotherapy method across Europe.

Neuroblastoma originates from the cells involved in the development
of a baby's nervous tissue. The cells that it develops from are
called neuroblasts.

Aggressive form

Addenbrooke's Hospital was one of 19 UK centres to take part in the
research from 1990 to 1999.

The trial, coordinated in six countries by scientists from the
Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group and funded by Cancer Research
UK, studied the effects of administering chemotherapy every 10 rather
than 21 days at 1.8 times the conventional dose on 262 children.

Neuroblastoma affects around 90 children each year in the UK and the
high-risk type of the disease is one of the main causes of
cancer-related deaths in children.

Researchers in the study treated children aged over one with
high-risk, stage four neuroblastoma - the most aggressive form.

Professor Andy Pearson, lead author of the paper, said: "Our method
of chemotherapy increases the survival rates for children with high
risk neuroblastoma and is already saving the lives of many children.

"Using a higher dose and having chemotherapy with shorter breaks
between each treatment means that fewer children will die from the
disease each year."

He also paid tribute to the parents and children involved in the
trial.

Kate Law, Cancer Research UK's director of clinical trials, said: "On
the strength of the results of this trial, all children in Europe
will receive a more effective treatment for this disease."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/7
264865.stm

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