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Esbenshade AJ, Sung L, Brackett J, Dupuis LL, Fisher BT, Grimes A, Miller TP, Ullrich NJ, Dvorak CC. Children's Oncology Group's 2023 blueprint for research: Cancer control and supportive care. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70 Suppl 6:e30568. [PMID: 37430431 PMCID: PMC10528808 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the Cancer Control and Supportive Care (CCL) Committee in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) is to reduce the overall morbidity and mortality of therapy-related toxicities in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. We have targeted five major domains that cause clinically important toxicity: (i) infections and inflammation; (ii) malnutrition and metabolic dysfunction; (iii) chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; (iv) neuro- and oto-toxicty; and (v) patient-reported outcomes and health-related quality of life. Subcommittees for each domain prioritize randomized controlled trials and biology aims to determine which strategies best mitigate the toxicities. The findings of these trials are impactful, informing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and directly leading to changes in the standard of care for oncology practice. With the development of new therapies, there will be new toxicities, and the COG CCL Committee is dedicated to developing interventions to minimize acute and delayed toxicities, lessen morbidity and mortality, and improve quality of life in pediatric and young adult patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Esbenshade
- Department of Pediatrics Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lillian Sung
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julienne Brackett
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - L Lee Dupuis
- Department of Pharmacy and Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children and Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brian T Fisher
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Allison Grimes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Tamara P Miller
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine/Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicole J Ullrich
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher C Dvorak
- Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology & Bone Marrow Transplantation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Damasco-Avila E, Zelaya Sagastizado S, Carrillo M, Blanco J, Fu L, Espinoza D, Ladas EJ. Improving the Quality of the Delivery of Nutritional Care Among Children Undergoing Treatment for Cancer in a Low- and Middle-Income Country. JCO Glob Oncol 2023; 9:e2300074. [PMID: 37384860 PMCID: PMC10497261 DOI: 10.1200/go.23.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE International twinning programs have been well-established between institutions in childhood cancer and have led to pediatric cancer units in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) adopting multidisciplinary forms of care. To advance nutritional care in LMICs, the International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition (IIPAN) provided the structural framework and personnel for the delivery of nutritional care. We describe the impact of a newly established nutrition program on the delivery of nutritional care and nutrition-related clinical outcomes in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for cancer in Nicaragua and Honduras. METHODS A prospective cohort (N = 126) collected clinical data over a 2-year period. Collection of IIPAN's nutritional services received during treatment and clinical data were abstracted from medical charts and registered in Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Chi-square, ANOVA, and generalized linear mixed models were used; P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Nutritional assessments led to a higher number of patients receiving recommended standard of care. Children classified as underweight during treatment presented higher number of infections and toxicities, length of hospital stay, and days of treatment delays during treatment. Overall, from the start to end of treatment, 32.5% of patients improved nutritional status, 35.7% maintained it, and 17.5% worsened. On the basis of metrics, the cost per consultation was less than 4.80 US dollars (USD; Honduras) and 1.60 USD (Nicaragua). CONCLUSION Integration and equitable access of the nutritional care process for all patients needs to be recognized as a component of the basic management in pediatric oncology care. IIPAN's nutritional program demonstrates that nutritional care is economical and feasible in a limited resource setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Damasco-Avila
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | | | - María Carrillo
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital Infantil Manuel de Jesús Rivera, Managua, Nicaragua
| | - Jessica Blanco
- National Unit of Pediatric Oncology, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Ligia Fu
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
| | - Darrell Espinoza
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital Infantil Manuel de Jesús Rivera, Managua, Nicaragua
| | - Elena J. Ladas
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
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3
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Runco DV, Wasilewski-Masker K, Mazewski CM, Patterson BC, Mertens AC. Features Associated With Weight Loss and Growth Stunting for Young Children During Cancer Therapy. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2021; 43:301-307. [PMID: 34133373 PMCID: PMC9580507 DOI: 10.1097/mph.0000000000002246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Features associated with malnutrition are poorly elucidated in pediatric cancer care. We aimed to better understand characteristics associated with weight-for-height (WHZ) and height-for-age (HAZ) changes for infants and young children during cancer treatment. This retrospective study included 434 patients diagnosed <3 years old from 2007 to 2015 at a large pediatric cancer center. Patients starting treatment outside our center, those with relapsed or secondary malignancies, or with inaccurate information were excluded. Abstracted weights and heights for a 24-month period after treatment initiation were converted to sex-specific and age-specific z scores. Although not statistically different at baseline, patients with hematologic malignancies gained weight over time, while other tumor types did not. Higher treatment intensity and younger age at diagnosis increased odds of clinically significant weight loss. Older children had higher HAZ at diagnosis and HAZ also significantly decreased over time for all examined risk factors, which is distinctly different from patterns in WHZ over time. In conclusion, WHZ and HAZ are affected differently by cancer treatment in infants and young children. We identify key risk factors for weight loss and growth stunting which will be necessary to develop prospective trials to examine anthropometric, biochemical, and patient recorded outcomes around nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel V. Runco
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT, Indiana University School of Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Karen Wasilewski-Masker
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT
| | - Claire M. Mazewski
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT
| | - Briana C. Patterson
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Ann C. Mertens
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology/BMT
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Prasad M, Tandon S, Gala R, Kannan S, Chinnaswamy G, Narula G, Vora T, Banavali S, Mehta S, Paradkar A, Goswami S, Ghadge M, Jagiasi D, Sharma S, Fernandes L, Manglani M, Jadhav A, Barr R, Ladas E. Efficacy of ready-to-use therapeutic food in malnourished children with cancer: Results of a randomized, open-label phase 3 trial. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29197. [PMID: 34212474 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adverse influence of undernutrition in children with cancer may be remediated by early nutritional intervention. This study assessed the efficacy of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) in improving nutritional status and reducing treatment-related toxicities (TRTs) in such children. METHODS In a randomized controlled phase-3 open-label trial, severely and moderately undernourished children with cancer were randomized 1:1 to receive standard nutritional therapy (SNT) or SNT+RUTF for 6 weeks. The primary outcome (weight gain >10%) and secondary outcomes (improved/maintained nutritional status, improved body composition) were assessed after 6 weeks. TRTs were assessed over 6 months. RESULTS Between July 2015 and March 2018, 260 subjects were enrolled, 126 were analyzable in both arms at 6 weeks. More children on RUTF had weight gain (98 [77.8%] vs. 81 [64.2%], p = .025) with a greater increase in fat mass as a percentage of body mass (median 2% [IQR -0.12 to 4.9] vs. 0.5% [IQR -1.45 to 2.27, p = .005]) but a greater loss of lean mass (median -1.86% [IQR -4.4 to 0.50] vs. -0.4% [IQR -2.4 to 1.4, p = .007]) compared to the SNT arm. Fewer subjects on the RUTF arm had episodes of severe infection (10.6% vs. 31%, p < .0001), treatment delays (17.7% vs. 39%, p < .0001), and severe mucositis (11% vs. 23.8%, p = .006) compared to the SNT arm. The odds of developing TRTs on the RUTF arm were lower even after adjusting for improvement in nutritional status. CONCLUSIONS RUTF is efficacious in improving weight gain and nutritional status in undernourished children with cancer and decreases TRTs. Incorporating RUTF into a healthy, balanced diet should be considered in undernourished children with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Prasad
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sneha Tandon
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Department of Child Health, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK
| | - Rajul Gala
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Sadhna Kannan
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Biostatistics, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Girish Chinnaswamy
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Gaurav Narula
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Tushar Vora
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shripad Banavali
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shaesta Mehta
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Digestive Disease and Clinical Nutrition, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Amey Paradkar
- Division of Paediatric Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Savita Goswami
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Psycho-Oncology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Meera Ghadge
- Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,Department of Biochemistry, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Sujata Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Lavina Fernandes
- Department of Pediatrics and Nutrition Rehabilitation Research and Training Centre, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mamta Manglani
- Paediatric Haematoology Oncology, Comprehensive Thalassemia Care and Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Alka Jadhav
- Department of Pediatrics and Nutrition Rehabilitation Research and Training Centre, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ronald Barr
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena Ladas
- Division of Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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Barr RD, Ladas EJ. Response letter to the editor. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2020; 20:921. [PMID: 32938239 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2020.1824714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald D Barr
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University , Hamilton, Canada
| | - Elena J Ladas
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center , New York, USA
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Barr RD, Stevens MCG. The influence of nutrition on clinical outcomes in children with cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67 Suppl 3:e28117. [PMID: 32134218 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adequate and appropriate nutrition is essential for growth and development in children; all put at risk in those with cancer. Overnutrition and undernutrition at diagnosis raise the risk of increased morbidity and mortality during therapy and beyond. All treatment modalities can jeopardize nutritional status with potentially adverse effects on clinical outcomes. Accurate assessment of nutritional status and nutrient balance is essential, with remedial interventions delivered promptly when required. Children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are especially disadvantaged with concomitant challenges in the provision of nutritional support. Cost-effective advances in the form of ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) may offer solutions. Studies in LMICs have defined a critical role for the gut microbiome in the causation of undernutrition in children and have demonstrated a beneficial effect of selected RUTF in redressing the imbalanced microbiota and improving nutritional status. Challenges in high-income countries relate both to concerns about the potential disadvantage of preexisting obesity in those newly diagnosed and to undernutrition identified at diagnosis and during treatment. Much remains to be understood but the prospects are bright for offsetting malnutrition in children with cancer, resulting in enhanced opportunity for healthy survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald D Barr
- Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Michael C G Stevens
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,NIHR Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration, Southampton, United Kingdom
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Trehan A, Viani K, da Cruz LB, Sagastizado SZ, Ladas EJ. The importance of enteral nutrition to prevent or treat undernutrition in children undergoing treatment for cancer. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2020; 67 Suppl 3:e28378. [PMID: 32614140 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nutrition therapy is a therapeutic approach to treating medical conditions and symptoms via diet, which can be done by oral, enteral or parenteral routes. It is desirable to include nutritional interventions as a standard of care in pediatric cancer units (PCUs) at all levels of care. The interventions are dependent on available resources and personnel across all clinical settings. Enteral nutrition is easy, inexpensive, uses the gastrointestinal tract, maintains gut mucosal integrity, and allows for individualized nutritional strategies. This narrative review describes enteral nutritional interventions for children undergoing cancer treatment and is aimed at PCUs of all levels of care located in a low- and middle-income country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amita Trehan
- Pediatric Hematology Oncology Unit, Advanced Pediatric Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Karina Viani
- Instituto de Tratamento do Câncer Infantil (ITACI), Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciane Beitler da Cruz
- Unidade de Oncologia Pediátrica do Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Elena J Ladas
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
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Trehan A, Ladas EJ. A multi-platform approach to promote clinical and research activities in nutrition and pediatric oncology. PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY ONCOLOGY JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phoj.2020.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
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9
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Joffe L, Ladas EJ. Nutrition during childhood cancer treatment: current understanding and a path for future research. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2020; 4:465-475. [PMID: 32061318 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(19)30407-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Proper nutritional status during cancer therapy has been recognised as being integral to a variety of health outcome measures, including overall survival, treatment tolerance, and quality of life. The prevalence of malnutrition, defined by WHO as either undernutrition or overnutrition, among children and adolescents with cancer is reported to be as high as 75%. Yet, over the past two decades there have been limited advances in elucidating the underlying pathophysiological drivers of malnutrition in this population. This effect has resulted in a paucity of research aimed at improving nutritional assessment and intervention among this group. This Review presents an in-depth discussion of the role of nutritional status in paediatric cancer care, as well as evolving avenues of investigation that might propel personalised nutrition into a viable reality. Thus, nutritional science might facilitate individualised intervention strategies, and thereby help to optimise clinical outcomes for patients and survivors of childhood cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenat Joffe
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elena J Ladas
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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Abstract
Introduction: Obesity compromises survival in children with cancer in high-income countries (HICs) and is accompanied often by sarcopenia. In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the great majority of children live, the prevalence of under-nutrition is as high as 95% in those with cancer. Nutritional support improves clinical outcomes, including survival.Areas covered: This narrative review describes the evolution of attention to nutrition in children with cancer and the increasing understanding of this relationship. An initial focus on obesity in children with acute leukemias in HICs has been matched more recently by a recognition of the negative effect of under-nutrition on survival in children with cancer in LMICs. These observations have stimulated explorations of underlying mechanisms, including dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, and structured nutritional interventions to redress adverse outcomes.Expert opinion: Studies of the gut microbiome and metabolome have yielded important information on the pathogenesis of malnutrition in children, providing new avenues for interventions. Combinations of plant products that are inexpensive and readily available in LMICs have been shown to 'mature' the microbiome and the corresponding plasma proteome in children with acute malnutrition, offering the prospect of cost-effective remedies that are tested in children with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald D Barr
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elena J Ladas
- Division of Hematology-Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, Irving Medical Centre, New York, USA
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