Research project: Congenital predisposition to childhood cancer

Four out of five children and adolescents can be cured today, but they have an increased risk of developing cancer again. Recurrences and second tumours are among the most common causes of death after cancer. As second tumours can be caused by a hereditary predisposition, genetic clarification is particularly important.

Aim of the project

For children and adults with a predisposition to cancer, follow-up care should be specially adapted so that second tumours can be detected and treated as early as possible. In Switzerland, there is currently no data on the assessment and care of patients with a predisposition to cancer after they have had childhood cancer. This is where the research study of the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Bern (ISPM) comes in. It takes stock of the situation, identifies current practice and needs, and in this way aims to help improve follow-up care.

Implementing organisation

Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern