Lamia Samrin-Balch, MRPharmS PGDip, Independent Prescriber Pharmacist, MSc Clinical Oncology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK, discusses recent advances in the management of pediatric cancer. To begin with, the use of precision medicine has considerably increased as a result of increased genetic testing options in pediatric patients. Immunotherapy is also used more frequently in various clinical settings. In addition, the recent introduction of proton beam therapy is going to improve long-term outcomes for pediatric patients. Moreover, the number international collaborations and clinical trials for pediatric cancer are also rapidly growing. Ms Samrin-Balch also highlights improvements in supportive care for pediatric patients, with the use of the cardioprotective drug dexrazoxane for patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy, and sodium thiosulfate for protection against cisplatin-induced hearing loss in hepatoblastoma. Finally, ongoing trials are exploring therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and pharmacokinetic (PK) monitoring for chemotherapy in pediatric patients. This interview took place at the BOPA 2021 virtual meeting.
