APCOM

Milano is the capital of the fight against Nephroblastoma, or Wilms' tumour, a tumour which hits the kidneys that typically occurs in children, rarely in adults. The Sala Montanelli, in the headquarters of the newspaper Corriere della Sera, has hosted the international two-day meeting dedicated to this illness, which in Italy every year hits around 70 children. The event has gathered 50 researchers: surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists and biologists coming from Europe, Brazil and North America, whose common aim is to elaborate more and more effective therapies.

The Nephroblastoma is the most frequent tumour of the kidneys as for children, especially those between 3 and 4 years old, while it is quite unusual after the age of 10. Filippo Spreafico, coordinator of the study committee on Wilms' tumour of Aieop, the Italian Association of pediatric haematology and oncology, explains the importance of such a conference: "This pathology being so rare, like all the child tumours, is fundamental to promote international research programs."

Aieop and Siop (International Society of pediatric oncology) have chosen two different kinds of therapy for this illness. The former suggests first of all chemotherapy, then - with neoplasia reduced thanks to medicines - the surgery to remove the ill kidney. On the other hand, North-Americans and Italian experts start with the surgery and, after that, select the treatments depending on the neoplasia's characteristics.