Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group
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On 1st August 2006, the United Kingdom Children’s Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) and the UK Childhood Leukaemia Working Party (UK CLWP) merged to form a single organization under the new name of Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG).
The United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group began in 1977 when a number of paediatricians who had been treating children with cancer joined together to form a group with the aims of improving the management of children with cancer and to advance the knowledge and study of childhood malignancy. From that small start, the group has steadily expanded and now has over 600 members, working in 22 Paediatric Oncology Centres throughout the British Isles, and including over 70 corresponding members from other countries around the world. Membership of the Group is multidisciplinary and includes clinicians, pathologists, epidemiologists, basic scientists and representatives of other disciplines.
The main area of activity is the coordination of clinical trials. The Group is responsible for a range of Phase I, II and III studies in all areas of childhood cancer. Virtually all trials are now run on an international basis, mainly in collaboration with colleagues in Europe. Members of the Group have played a leading role in a number of major clinical trials, as well as playing a leading role in fostering and expanding international collaboration.
As more and more children (currently around 75%) are cured of their disease, so increasing importance is being placed on investigations of the late effects of treatment, and the long term effects of the disease. Quality of life and psychosocial issues for survivors, as well as children and young people undergoing treatment, are also a major focus.
In December 1998 the UKCCSG launched Contact, a national magazine for childhood cancer families. This magazine, which is produced quarterly, is now a collaborative venture with the National Alliance of Childhood Cancer Parents Organizations (NACCPO). The aims of Contact are to provide information and to help reduce the sense of isolation felt by many patients and their families. In a short space of time the magazine has achieved considerable success, helping to reinforce the strong links which exist between professionals and parents/parent and other support organizations. Since then a range of booklets aimed at patients are families are also produced, including information for siblings and grandparents.
In 2002 the UKCCSG celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The occasion was marked in a variety of ways – celebration of scientific achievement through a series of high-profile invited lectures; a Public Lecture, bringing together professionals and families; as well as fun events in each of the treatment centres. The final event of the year was the launch of the commemorative history, ‘Quest for Cure: The UK Children’s Cancer Study Group – The First 25 Years’, which is available through the Data Centre.
In January 2006 the Data Centre expanded by taking on a new wing in Hearts of Oak House. The new wing provides additional office accommodation and meeting rooms and was officially opened on Friday, 6th January 2006 by the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, MP and Secretary of State for Health.
