Rapid strides continue t o be made in pediatric oncology, as the various malignant diseases of children become better defined, their genetic bases more clearly understood, and more successful treatment methods are devised. Prevention! and prophylaxis attract increasing attention as etiologies become known. Better and more selective therapy is constantly being sought while, at the same time, the late, deleterious consequences of successful therapy become matters of growing concern as cure rates rise.
To permit early communication of observations made in this quickly changing field, the Editorial Board will publish the proceedings of the tumor board at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the first of which appears in this issue on page 3. Each article will be based on the discussion of a case, chosen because it exemplifies a facet of pediatric oncology that holds particular interest. Etiology, epidemiology, treatment, complications, and prognosis all will be covered, while unusual problems will be highlighted.
It is hoped that pediatricians and oncologists will find the Proceedings informative, useful, and timely; and that the series thus will be making a contribution to the conquest of cancer in children.