Footnotes

• Competing interests: CM is actively engaged in recruiting patients to clinical trials conducted by the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group and sponsored by the University of Sheffield and University of Leicester.

• Abbreviations:

  ALL

  acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

  BFM group

  Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster group

  CCG

  Children’s Cancer Group

  EFS

  event-free survival

  ENSG

  European Neuroblastoma Study Group

  EORTC

  European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

  EUCTD

  EU Clinical Trials Directive

  HDM

  high-dose melphalan

  MHRA

  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

  MRD

  minimal residual disease

  NCRI

  National Cancer Research Institute

  NWTS

  National Wilms’ Tumor Study

  OS

  overall survival

  RT-PCR

  real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction

  SIOP

  International Society of Paediatric Oncology

  UKCCSG

  UK Children’s Cancer Study Group