Comment on Popov et al. (Genetic characteristics and treatment
outcome in infants with KMT2A germline B-cell precursor acute
lymphoblastic leukemia: Results of MLL-Baby protocol, Pediatr Blood
Cancer. 2023 Jan 30:e30204. doi: 10.1002/pbc.30204)
Dear editor,
February 24 marks the anniversary of one of Europe’s post-WW II darkest
hours, Russia’s totally unprovoked and brutal military aggression
against the Ukranian people. Literally millions of innocent civilians
were thus forced to either be murdered or flee their homes and seek
refuge in neighboring countries. The free world has responded by
sanctioning the aggressor in many ways, including, for instance, a ban
on the sale of most Russian products and a ban on Russian participation
in competitive sports.
It is with great disappointment that I had to discover thatPediatric Blood and Cancer does not at all deem such measures
necessary: The journal’s most recent issue prominently features a report
by a group based in Russia (1). While this group’s members are certainly
respected physicians and may not at all endorse the war and its
brutality, publishing a paper originating in the aggressor’s country
most certainly does. It tells us that the war is to be considered normal
and implies that we should go back to minding our own business. However,
this is our own business: We must do everything in our might to end the
brutal military aggression! Until this is achieved, not publishing a
single word from the aggressor’s country seems like the least we can do,
the least we should do, and, yes, the least we as the international
Pediatric Oncology community must do. It would certainly be the right
thing to do for Pediatric Blood and Cancer !
Prof. Dr. Stefan S. Bielack
Cooperative Osteosarkomstudiengruppe COSS
Klinikum Stuttgart – Olgahospital
Stuttgart Cancer Center
Zentrum für Kinder-, Jugend- und Frauenmedizin
Pädiatrie 5 (Onkologie, Hämatologie, Immunologie)
70176 Stuttgart
Germany