Landscape of paediatric oncology clinical trials in Asia.

Abstract

In this second paper of a Series on childhood cancer in Asia, we provide an overview on the Paediatric Oncology Clinical Trials in Asia. Asia with a population of 4.7 billion constitutes about 60% of the world's population. The continent accounts for about half of the global paediatric cancer burden. Many Asian countries have consequently formed national professional societies in childhood cancer. Multicentre clinical trials are pivotal in advancing survival outcomes in paediatric oncology. The continent's diverse socioeconomic conditions may account for significant disparities in the development of such trials. However some countries with good financial resources are relatively deficient in developing clinical trials. In general, the countries show three distinct levels of clinical trials development: established, emerging and nascent. This article reports the landscape of multicentre clinical trials in Asia and the hurdles that clinicians face to actively engage in quality research and clinical trials. Although a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is not feasible, the successful development of clinical trials systems in some countries can offer valuable lessons and insights for others. This is the second in a <b>Series</b> of three papers on childhood cancer in Asia (Paper 3 appears in The Lancet Child and Adolescence Health).