The dramatic improvement made in recent years in the treatment of child hood malignancies has been in large part the result of advances in the field of pharmacology. Chemotherapy is the major therapeutic modality used to treat childhood cancer. Rational administration of antineoplastic chemo therapy to the child with cancer requires the pediatric oncologist to have a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of clinical pharmaco logy, an intimate knowledge of the specific agents being used, and an aware ness of the unique biologic and physiologic features of children. In mid 1985, a distinguished group of pediatric oncologists and clinical pharmacologists convened in a unique workshop to review the subject of pharmacology in pediatric oncology. A goal of this workshop was to pro duce a book which would review this topic and present it in a format useful for the clinician. In this book basic principles of pharmacology, mechanisms of drug resis tance, new methods of drug delivery, guidelines for studying new agents in children, new biological response modifiers and the pharmacology of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in children are reviewed in depth. Particular emphasis is given to discussing those topics which unique ly apply to the use of antineoplastic agents in children with cancer. The Editors VII Contents Preface . v Contents Vll List of Major Contributors Xl Principles of Antineoplastic Therapy in Children 1. Clinical pharmacokinetics for the pediatric oncologist ................ .

There are few publications about chemotherapy in children, and none of them is a book aimed at pharmacists. Pediatric Oncology Pharmacy is an area where more and more specific knowledge is required in daily practice. Pharmacists who work in pediatric oncology area do not have a book directed at them; none of the oncopediatric books addresses topics unique to pharmacy — such as manipulation of cytotoxic drugs for children, analysis of oncopediatric prescriptions, clinical pharmacy in oncopediatrics, pharmaceutical care in oncopediatric area, and other subjects that are of exclusive interest to these professionals, but no less essential for a therapy of excellence. As for this need, the purpose of this book is to be a guideline for all subjects that pediatric oncology pharmacists need to know to work in this area. It will be an essential guide to pediatric oncology pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, pharmaceutical residents who work with drug therapy in children and pharmaceutical researchers. It will be a pocket guide to assist in daily practice, and it will be essential to Pediatric Oncology/ Hematology Institutions. The essential propose of this book is to be the first one focusing pediatric oncology for pharmacists.

About 2/3 of drugs prescribed for children have not been studied & labeled for pediatric use, which places children at risk of being exposed to ineffective treatment or incorrect dosing. The Best Pharm. for Children Act (BPCA), encourages the mfrs. of drugs that still have marketing exclusivity to conduct pediatric drug studies (PDS), as requested by the FDA. If they do so, FDA may extend for 6 mo. the period during which no equivalent generic drugs can be marketed. This report: assessed the extent to which PDS were being conducted under BPCA for on-patent drugs; evaluated the impact of BPCA on labeling drugs for pediatric use & the process by which the labeling was changed; & illustrated the range of diseases treated by the drugs studied under BPCA.

There are few publications about drug interactions in chemotherapy and even less about pediatric oncology treatment. For this reason, the present book is intended to offer guidelines about drug interactions for physicians, pharmacists and the other healthcare professionals involved in the chemotherapy of pediatric patients. In this book the reader will have access to a primary introduction for the major diseases in pediatric oncology, followed by the major therapeutic protocols. Following that, the most important drug interactions in pediatric oncology treatment are presented and discussed in detail. Finally, important topics such as Drug-Food Interactions are addressed. Drug Therapy and Interactions in Pediatric Oncology focuses in great detail on the drug interactions in Pediatric Oncohematology and will be an indispensable resource in daily practice for a wide range of health providers.

"This authoritative reference is a comprehensive resource on the biology and genetics of childhood cancer as well as its diagnosis, multimodal treatment, as well as long-term management of young patients with cancer. Also addressed are a broad array of topics on the supportive and psychosocial aspects of care of children and families. Covering virtually every aspect of the breadth and depth of childhood cancer, this reference provides expert guidance on state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary care for children and families"--

This comprehensive clinical handbook for nurses in paediatric haematology/oncology, contains in-depth information regarding patho-physiology, diagnosis, treatment, advanced assessment and interventions.