Therapy associated changes in childhood tumors

Contemporary treatment regimens for the common solid tumors of childhood ha ve led to increased numbers of post-treatment pathologic specimens from sur vivors. Current therapeutic strategies for childhood cancers in North Ameri ca require an accurate pathologic diagnosis and stratify patients based on combinations of clinical, biological, and pathologic features. In several t umor systems, the pathologic response to therapy also modifies the treatmen t regimen. Accurate pathologic interpretation of such specimens is critical in providing useful prognostic information for therapeutic decisions. Stan dardized handling of post-therapy pathologic specimens, appropriate use of molecular and genetic studies, consideration of the differential diagnoses, and assessment of the potential biologic significance of therapy-induced p athologic changes are, therefore, critical for patient management and deter mination of treatment protocols.