Journal of Inflammation Research

Inflammation in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology: Clinical Manifestations, Treatment-Related Complications and Precision Care

The Journal of Inflammation Research is pleased to welcome you to submit your research to the Article Collection "Inflammation in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology: Clinical Manifestations, Treatment-Related Complications and Precision Care".

Inflammation plays a central role in pediatric hematology and oncology, influencing disease biology, treatment response, toxicity, and long-term outcomes. Severe inflammatory and infectious complications remain among the leading causes of treatment-related mortality in children with cancer. These patients may develop complications related to the underlying disease, infections, immune dysregulation, anticancer therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and novel immunotherapies. Clinical manifestations range from mucositis, organ injury, and metabolic disturbances to cytokine release syndrome, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and severe systemic inflammation. Despite growing clinical experience, prediction, diagnosis, prevention, and management remain insufficiently standardized. This Collection aims to bring together clinical, translational, and epidemiological studies addressing inflammatory processes in pediatric hematology and oncology, with particular emphasis on biomarkers, treatment-related complications, supportive care, risk stratification, and individualized therapeutic strategies. By integrating evidence with real-world practice, it seeks to advance precision care and improve outcomes for children affected by these complex conditions across diverse treatment settings.

This topic is important because inflammatory complications determine whether children can receive anticancer treatment safely, on schedule, and at the intended intensity. They may lead to treatment interruptions, dose reductions, prolonged hospitalization, intensive care admission, organ dysfunction, and impaired quality of life. Their impact extends beyond acute toxicity, as early inflammatory events can influence recovery, late effects, and long-term survivorship. Clinical decisions are often difficult because similar symptoms may reflect infection, drug toxicity, immune activation, disease progression, or several processes occurring simultaneously. Evidence remains fragmented, and management varies between institutions. A focused collection can help define clinically useful phenotypes, identify high-risk patients, evaluate practical biomarkers, and compare preventive and therapeutic strategies. It can also promote collaboration between pediatric oncologists, hematologists, infectious disease specialists, immunologists, intensivists, and supportive care teams. Ultimately, better evidence may enable earlier recognition, more targeted interventions, fewer avoidable complications, and more consistent, equitable care across healthcare settings.

Inflammation is recognized as a key component of disease biology, treatment response, and complications in pediatric hematology and oncology. This Article Collection will focus on clinically relevant inflammatory processes affecting children with hematologic disorders and malignancies, with particular emphasis on their recognition, prediction, prevention, and management. Relevant subtopics include systemic inflammation and sepsis, infection-associated inflammatory responses, treatment-related toxicities, mucosal and organ injury, and inflammatory complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or immunotherapy. The Collection will also welcome studies on cytokine-mediated syndromes, immune dysregulation, inflammatory biomarkers, and laboratory parameters useful for diagnosis, prognosis, or risk stratification. Research evaluating supportive care, anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory strategies, and approaches to individualized management is particularly encouraged. Clinical, translational, epidemiological, and real-world studies are welcome, provided that inflammation represents a central aspect of the research question. The Collection aims to connect mechanistic understanding with practical strategies that can advance precision care in pediatric hematology and oncology.

Keywords: Pediatric onco-inflammation; Treatment-related complications; Inflammatory biomarkers; Supportive care; Precision medicine

Meet the Guest Advisor

Dr. Joanna Zawitkowska, MD, PhD, DSc, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Transplantology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland. She is a specialist in pediatric hematology and oncology with extensive clinical and academic experience in the treatment of children with hematological disorders and malignancies. Her research interests include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, treatment-related toxicities, inflammatory and infectious complications, supportive care, and individualized therapeutic strategies. Her work aims to improve treatment safety, reduce complications, and advance precision care in pediatric hematology and oncology.