ImPaCCT Foundation highlights the crucial aspects of paediatric cancer in India

The experts explored pivotal talk points such as pediatric care, unveiling enlightening statistics on patients, facilities, treatments, cure rates and recent breakthroughs

ImPaCCT (Improving Paediatric Cancer Care and Treatment) Foundation, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), hosted a press conference yesterday, addressing crucial aspects of paediatric cancer care in India.

Speaking at the event were, Shalini Jatia, Officer-in-Charge, ImPaCCT Foundation, Tata Memorial Centre, Dr Shripad Banavali, Director, Academics, Tata Memorial Centre and Dr Girish Chinnaswamy, Head of Department, Paediatric Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital.

The experts explored pivotal talk points such as pediatric care, unveiling enlightening statistics on patients, facilities, treatments, cure rates and recent breakthroughs. Addressing the prevalent challenges in pediatric cancer care in India, they articulated a survivorship program tailored to facilitate the seamless reintegration of young survivors into their everyday lives.

The experts highlighted collaborative efforts and support initiatives aimed at fostering a cultivating environment for effective treatment and care and shed light on advancements in multimodality therapy, with a particular emphasis on the pivotal role of Immunotherapy in improving treatment outcomes. A noteworthy highlight of the event was the official announcement of the forthcoming annual cultural event – HOPE 2023, the biggest annual cultural event hosted by ImPaCCT Foundation, Tata Memorial Hospital for Pediatric Cancer Patients.

HOPE 2023, curated by ImPaCCT Foundation, Tata Memorial Centre support pediatric cancer care. Embracing the lively essence of Bollywood, this year’s theme ensures spreading laughter resembling The Kapil Sharma Show. The spotlight will be on children as they showcase their unique interpretation of the comedia, injecting the event with laughter and entertainment.

Few facts and figures on childhood cancer shared by ImPaCCT Foundation

• India accounts for 20 per cent of the new childhood cancer cases diagnosed worldwide each year. As India has approx. 70000 cases (less than 18 years) and worldwide approx. 400,000
• In TMC centres alone nearly 3500 cases are being seen every year annually
• Childhood cancer cure rates are actually 70 to 95 per cent in high income countries. In India the average survival rates are approx. 40 per cent. Global cure rates of childhood cancers are 35 per cent

Comprehensive database for delivery and monitoring of holistic paediatric cancer care – Experience of ImPaCCT Foundation over a decade

Providing comprehensive support through ImPaCCT  Foundation, established in 2010, necessitated the development of a robust database for monitoring the implementation of the program and impact assessment. This database, which was set up with the help of an NGO in 2010, has captured data over a decade including demographics, socio-economic factors, treatment abandonment and survival outcomes amongst others. The model is being replicated strategically across all TMC centres. We analysed the data captured on this database over the last 12 years.

The ImPaCCT database captures real time patient data entered via google sheet by all members of the multidisciplinary team. This is also used for tracking of patients during and post therapy. We performed a descriptive analysis of the data captured over the last 12 years, with specific emphasis on the changing trends in patient profiles, socioeconomic factors, disease outcomes, abandonment rates and survivorship.

Over the last 12 years since the database was created, data from a total number of 21181 children with cancer who were referred to TMC has been captured. Amongst them, 75 per cent of children (16038) undertook treatment at TMC and 10.4 per cent were referred to local centres. 85 per cent (17997) of the children were treated in the general category supported by ImPaCCT. The total financial support provided during this time is Rs 3,188,462,294. The male: female ratio across the whole group is 1.8:1 and no change in the sex ratio was observed over a decade. Education status of the parents remained unaltered as well with the proportion of fathers having undergone high school education varying between 53-61 per cent and mothers 45-49 per cent over the years. Proportion of mothers having completed university education increased from 16 per cent to 21 per cent. The abandonment rate was 20 per cent before 2010 which decreased to below 5 per cent in 2015 and is 2 per cent in 2021.

The survival across the whole study period of children treated in TMC (between 2010-2018 n=10799) is 48 per cent. It increased from 41 per cent in 2010 and for children treated in 2018 it is 58 per cent (5 year follow up). Over 4500 children are registered in the ACT clinic.

The ImPaCCT model for keeping the patient data is low cost and serves a manifold purpose. This has been replicated to all TMC centres. This has the potential to be adapted and implemented in other centres treating children with cancer across India and similar settings.