Cancer Pharmacoethnicity: Ascertaining Chronic Health Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Asia

The global population of long-term survivors of childhood cancer has grown steadily over the past decades due to advances in modern treatment strategies. Unfortunately, existing evidence demonstrates that survivorship comes at a cost of developing a myriad of treatment-related complications that can persist till years after diagnosis. Currently, countries within Asia dominate the largest share of the global cancer burden. While additional progress in treating childhood cancer in Asia is unquestionably necessary, it is anticipated that there will be an emerging population of survivors of childhood cancer over the next decade. However, there is a paucity of studies that evaluates long-term health outcomes in Asian survivors of childhood cancer. Pharmacoethnicity, which refers to ethnic variance in drug response or toxicity, may render divergent health outcomes between Western and Asian cancer survivors. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors may contribute to differences in the development and presentation of chronic toxicities. This opinion piece discusses the urging need for survivorship research that is unique to Asian population. Such knowledge is critical in guiding preventive and rehabilitative interventions that improve health outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer in Asia.