Ukraine - Immunocytochemical Diagnosis of Leukemias and Malignant Tumors in Children
The main drawback in the organization for anticancer treatment in Ukraine consists of non defined diagnosis time leading to rather high mortality rates in paediatric cancer patients within the first year of diagnosis. The level of morphological verification of cancer diagnosis in Ukraine is low in comparison with Western countries and the immunocytochemical techniques are not in routine use in clinical facilities. The expensive modern diagnostics techniques and treatments are not available to all population. Only 70% to 80% of children with cancer reach a specialized center. As a result, 5-year survival rates of paediatric cancer patients are less than in developed countries. The situation is exacerbated by the absence of a social security system and medical insurance, which are now only being put in place. The creation of a specialized diagnostic center in order to concentrate the efforts of highly qualified specialists as well as to spare money necessary for purchasing reagents of high cost seems to be the most expedient way to improve the state of diagnosis with the aim of attaining the high standards of treatment.
Main Objectives of the Project:
- Organization of a reference center for childhood cancer and leukemia diagnosis in Ukraine
- Organization of a network connecting the regional oncohaematologists, oncologists and specialists on laboratory diagnosis with the Reference Center in Kiev
- Consultations of regional oncohaematologists and oncologists and evaluation of the state of affairs in the diagnosis of childhood haematopoietic and other malignancies with the aim of raising standards
- Methodical seminars and training courses for the dissemination of current knowledge on modern techniques for diagnosing childhood haematopoietic malignancies
Benefits of the Project:
- The improvement in diagnosis of childhood haematopoietic malignancies and solid tumors in children provides the basis for effective implementation of standardized programs of intensive treatment
- The implementation of the standards adopted for diagnostics in the Reference Center allows the physicians of paediatric, oncological and oncohaematological clinics in Kiev and all the regions of Ukraine to improve treatment outcome
- The precise diagnosis is expected to result in a significant increase in 5 year survival for children with leukemias approaching the survival rate achieved at present in the Western countries
- Provision of quality diagnostic examinations free of charge with equal access to all pediatric cancer patients (486 children with various malignancies of the hematopoietic and lymphoid system were diagnosed in 2006-2007 within the MCM framework.
Organisation: Kavestsky Institute
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