Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark: 2001–2021

Mie Mølgaard Andersen; Marie Christine Lundius Sørensen; Kjeld Schmiegelow; Astrid Marie Sehested; Klaus Rostgaard; Marianne Olsen; Torben Stamm Mikkelsen; Peder Skov Wehner; Lisa Lyngsie Hjalgrim; Signe Holst Søegaard

doi:10.1002/pbc.31384

Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark: 2001–2021

Mie Mølgaard Andersen, Marie Christine Lundius Sørensen, Kjeld Schmiegelow, Astrid Marie Sehested, Klaus Rostgaard, Marianne Olsen, Torben Stamm Mikkelsen, Peder Skov Wehner, Lisa Lyngsie Hjalgrim, Signe Holst Søegaard^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Clinical Medicine - Department of Paediatrics

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Background: In recent decades, new first and subsequent lines of anticancer treatment and supportive care have improved survival for children with cancer. We investigated recent temporal changes in the incidence of relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark. Procedure: This register-based study included 2890 children diagnosed before age 15 years with haematological cancers and solid tumours (2001–2021) and central nervous system (CNS) tumours (2010–2021). We used the Aalen–Johansen and Kaplan–Meier estimators to assess cumulative incidence of relapse—defined as cancer recurrence or progression—and survival probability after relapse. Results: Comparing the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2021, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse decreased from 14% to 11% among children with haematological cancers (p =.07), and from 21% to 18% among children with solid tumours (p =.26). Concurrently, the 5-year survival after relapse increased among children with haematological cancers (from 44% to 61%, p =.03) and solid tumours (from 38% to 46%, p =.25). Among children with malignant CNS tumours, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse and the 5-year survival after relapse remained stable (49% and 51%, p =.82; and 20% and 18%, p =.90) comparing 2010–2015 and 2016–2021. Conclusions: In recent decades in Denmark, improvements were observed in reducing relapse incidence and increasing survival after relapse in children with haematological cancers and solid tumours. However, the persistent survival gap between children who relapse and those who do not across all childhood cancers underlines the need for intensified and highly targeted treatments for children at high risk of relapse.

Original language	English
Article number	e31384
Journal	Pediatric Blood and Cancer
Volume	72
Issue	1
ISSN	1545-5009
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/pbc.31384
Publication status	Published - Jan 2025

Keywords

childhood cancer
Denmark
population-based study
relapse
survival

Access to Document

10.1002/pbc.31384Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

@article{b1aa400d803a4f0d8eb1799e54141ae7,

title = "Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark: 2001–2021",

abstract = "Background: In recent decades, new first and subsequent lines of anticancer treatment and supportive care have improved survival for children with cancer. We investigated recent temporal changes in the incidence of relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark. Procedure: This register-based study included 2890 children diagnosed before age 15 years with haematological cancers and solid tumours (2001–2021) and central nervous system (CNS) tumours (2010–2021). We used the Aalen–Johansen and Kaplan–Meier estimators to assess cumulative incidence of relapse—defined as cancer recurrence or progression—and survival probability after relapse. Results: Comparing the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2021, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse decreased from 14% to 11% among children with haematological cancers (p =.07), and from 21% to 18% among children with solid tumours (p =.26). Concurrently, the 5-year survival after relapse increased among children with haematological cancers (from 44% to 61%, p =.03) and solid tumours (from 38% to 46%, p =.25). Among children with malignant CNS tumours, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse and the 5-year survival after relapse remained stable (49% and 51%, p =.82; and 20% and 18%, p =.90) comparing 2010–2015 and 2016–2021. Conclusions: In recent decades in Denmark, improvements were observed in reducing relapse incidence and increasing survival after relapse in children with haematological cancers and solid tumours. However, the persistent survival gap between children who relapse and those who do not across all childhood cancers underlines the need for intensified and highly targeted treatments for children at high risk of relapse.",

keywords = "childhood cancer, Denmark, population-based study, relapse, survival",

author = "Andersen, {Mie M{\o}lgaard} and S{\o}rensen, {Marie Christine Lundius} and Kjeld Schmiegelow and Sehested, {Astrid Marie} and Klaus Rostgaard and Marianne Olsen and Mikkelsen, {Torben Stamm} and Wehner, {Peder Skov} and Hjalgrim, {Lisa Lyngsie} and S{\o}egaard, {Signe Holst}",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1002/pbc.31384",

language = "English",

volume = "72",

journal = "Pediatric Blood and Cancer",

issn = "1545-5009",

publisher = "Wiley-Liss Inc.",

number = "1",

}

Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark: 2001–2021. / Andersen, Mie Mølgaard; Sørensen, Marie Christine Lundius; Schmiegelow, Kjeld et al.
In: Pediatric Blood and Cancer, Vol. 72, No. 1, e31384, 01.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark

T2 - 2001–2021

AU - Andersen, Mie Mølgaard

AU - Sørensen, Marie Christine Lundius

AU - Schmiegelow, Kjeld

AU - Sehested, Astrid Marie

AU - Rostgaard, Klaus

AU - Olsen, Marianne

AU - Mikkelsen, Torben Stamm

AU - Wehner, Peder Skov

AU - Hjalgrim, Lisa Lyngsie

AU - Søegaard, Signe Holst

PY - 2025/1

Y1 - 2025/1

N2 - Background: In recent decades, new first and subsequent lines of anticancer treatment and supportive care have improved survival for children with cancer. We investigated recent temporal changes in the incidence of relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark. Procedure: This register-based study included 2890 children diagnosed before age 15 years with haematological cancers and solid tumours (2001–2021) and central nervous system (CNS) tumours (2010–2021). We used the Aalen–Johansen and Kaplan–Meier estimators to assess cumulative incidence of relapse—defined as cancer recurrence or progression—and survival probability after relapse. Results: Comparing the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2021, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse decreased from 14% to 11% among children with haematological cancers (p =.07), and from 21% to 18% among children with solid tumours (p =.26). Concurrently, the 5-year survival after relapse increased among children with haematological cancers (from 44% to 61%, p =.03) and solid tumours (from 38% to 46%, p =.25). Among children with malignant CNS tumours, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse and the 5-year survival after relapse remained stable (49% and 51%, p =.82; and 20% and 18%, p =.90) comparing 2010–2015 and 2016–2021. Conclusions: In recent decades in Denmark, improvements were observed in reducing relapse incidence and increasing survival after relapse in children with haematological cancers and solid tumours. However, the persistent survival gap between children who relapse and those who do not across all childhood cancers underlines the need for intensified and highly targeted treatments for children at high risk of relapse.

AB - Background: In recent decades, new first and subsequent lines of anticancer treatment and supportive care have improved survival for children with cancer. We investigated recent temporal changes in the incidence of relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark. Procedure: This register-based study included 2890 children diagnosed before age 15 years with haematological cancers and solid tumours (2001–2021) and central nervous system (CNS) tumours (2010–2021). We used the Aalen–Johansen and Kaplan–Meier estimators to assess cumulative incidence of relapse—defined as cancer recurrence or progression—and survival probability after relapse. Results: Comparing the periods 2001–2010 and 2011–2021, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse decreased from 14% to 11% among children with haematological cancers (p =.07), and from 21% to 18% among children with solid tumours (p =.26). Concurrently, the 5-year survival after relapse increased among children with haematological cancers (from 44% to 61%, p =.03) and solid tumours (from 38% to 46%, p =.25). Among children with malignant CNS tumours, the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse and the 5-year survival after relapse remained stable (49% and 51%, p =.82; and 20% and 18%, p =.90) comparing 2010–2015 and 2016–2021. Conclusions: In recent decades in Denmark, improvements were observed in reducing relapse incidence and increasing survival after relapse in children with haematological cancers and solid tumours. However, the persistent survival gap between children who relapse and those who do not across all childhood cancers underlines the need for intensified and highly targeted treatments for children at high risk of relapse.

KW - childhood cancer

KW - Denmark

KW - population-based study

KW - relapse

KW - survival

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206877628&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/pbc.31384

DO - 10.1002/pbc.31384

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39434220

AN - SCOPUS:85206877628

SN - 1545-5009

VL - 72

JO - Pediatric Blood and Cancer

JF - Pediatric Blood and Cancer

IS - 1

M1 - e31384

ER -

Relapse and survival after relapse among children with cancer in Denmark: 2001–2021

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this