PENTEC: World experts team up to improve outcomes for children after radiation therapy

More than 150 specialists worldwide provide evidence-based guidance to reduce long-term effects of radiation therapy in children

2021-05-12

(Press-News.org) Annually, more than 350,000 children in the world are affected by pediatric cancer. Radiation has improved outcomes dramatically, but the damage caused to healthy tissue can affect the long-term health of a child. While clinicians and radiation specialists design treatments using the most up-to-date information available, there hasn't been a single guiding source of data to make evidence-based decisions that are specific for children. Now, a volunteer international research collaboration is working toward providing evidence-based guidelines for radiation therapy dosing for children. Results from this effort will help in minimizing side effects while continuing to provide effective radiation therapy.

An introduction to PENTEC--or Pediatric Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic--was END

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