Papillary thyroid carcinoma in pediatric age: An example of a rare tumour managed within a cooperative comprehensive project

Though rare in childhood, thyroid cancers represent the most frequent tumours of endocrine glands in childhood and adolescence. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is a nonmedullary, follicular-derived differentiated tumour of the thyroid. There is still controversy concerning the therapeutic approach to be adopted of PTCs in the paediatric population, regarding the extent of the surgical approach, and the need for radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. The cooperative TREP project (Tumori Rari in Età Pediatrica Rare Tumours in Paediatric Age]) was launched in Italy in 2000 (under the patronage of AIEOP Associazione Italiana Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica) with a view to improving both researches on the clinical management of the less common paediatric cancers. The aim of the project is to merge clinical data and elaborate diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for everyone of these rare tumours within a single framework: of course papillary thyroid carcinoma have been analysed in the TREP project. The cooperative model of TREP led to the establishment of a larger cooperative group, EXPeRT (European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors), seeking to create collaboration and communication within European members. EXPeRT aims to promote clinical and biological research in paediatric rare tumours by strengthening collaboration between the founder national groups and international partners. The studies have demonstrated that international cooperation in childhood rare tumours is not only achievable, but may be of great advantage.