Childhood cancer is the main cause of disease related death in children, with leukaemia and brain cancer being the most frequent types of childhood tumours diagnosed. Besides genetic conditions and exposure to ionising radiation, its causes remain largely unknown although many environmental risk factors are suspected.

Survival at 5 years after childhood cancers across Europe is heterogeneous. In Spain, it reached 77 % for cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2004. Improvements in treatments during the last decades have substantially increased the childhood cancer survival rates and it is estimated that there are 300,000 to 500,000 childhood cancer survivors currently alive in Europe.

Improvements in survival have however been accompanied by a parallel increase in the appearance of late adverse effects due to cancer treatments. The study of the effects of such treatments in children is of particular interest because they were treated when organs and physiological systems were still immature and they potentially have many years of life – including reproductive life – in front of them.

Effects of cancer treatment, including second cancers, other chronic diseases and permanent or chronic disability later in life represent a substantial burden on affected individuals, families, and health services. Medical guidelines on the long term follow-up of childhood cancer survivors are available and cover many potential problems which can arise after cancer treatments (thyroid dysfunction, growth problems, fertility, psychosocial problems, etc) but questions remain open about the long-term effects of treatment and optimisation of treatment for the future.

ISGlobal (former CREAL) aims to establish a Spanish cohort of childhood cancer survivors (Study of the Spanish survivors of childhood cancer [SPAIN-CCSS] suitable for prospective follow-up in the longer term. This cohort will allow the investigation of possible adverse health outcome and late mortality after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with the ultimate objective of optimising cancer treatment in the future. Following the set-up of SPAIN-CCSS, a study based on this cohort will be conducted in the framework of ProCardio in order to investigate in particular cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Please refer to ISGlobal (former CREAL) webpage related to ProCardio for further information click here.