Solid tumors in children [Article in Serbian]

Abstract

The last three decades have seen great progress in the treatment of childhood malignant diseases. This progress is largely due to the development of new antineoplastic drugs and protocols for combining these drugs, but also due to signifi cant improvements in supportive therapy that is a key component of the overall treatment strategy. The area of supportive therapy encompasses management of emergencies, transfusion therapy, treatment of infections, nutritional support, treatment of symptoms, psychosocial support and management of late complications of the disease, as well as those arising from its treatment. Modern supportive therapy has made intensifi cation of treatment possible for children suffering from malignant disease, with control of the consequences of such treatment, resulting in the current standard that treatment-related mortality over one percent in children with malignant diseases, in any pediatric oncological center, is to be seen as unacceptable. Treatment of malignant disease in children is, therefore, now performed exclusively in centers that are capable of providing the full extent of all aspects of supportive therapy, thereby ensuring the best possible outlook for the patient.