The results of high risk children's acute lyrnphoblastic leukemia total therapy. A report from the Polish children's leukemia/lymphoma study group

The study evaluates the efficacy of seven drug systemic therapy and three drug intrathecal treatment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Three hundred and thirty-five children with ALL treated at six hematological centers in Poland were divided into two groups: standard group and high risk group according to the BFM score method. Ninety-two children estimated as high risk patients diagnosed between 1978 and 1981 were treated according to the Polish Children's Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group (PCLSG) program adopted from LSA₂L₂ regimen. The patients received prednisone, vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide as remission induction treatment, followed by cytarabin and 6-thioguanine given as consolidation therapy. The central nervous system prophylaxis consisted of cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabin and hydrocortisone. In maintenance phase, three different drug combinations were given as intermittent therapy. The total duration of therapy was 2.5 years. The life table analysis showed a 38% disease free survival and 50% complete continuous remission (CCR) for the total group of patients. A relatively high incidence of CNS relapse was observed. These results indicated that the regimen applied was not satisfactorily effective for the increased risk of ALL. Three of seven evaluated prognostic indices—age, mediastinal mass and cytochemical features—were significantly associated with probability of survival of the patients with protocol applied. Some other therapy proposals are discussed.     

Decreased induction morbidity and mortality following modification to induction therapy in infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia enrolled on AALL0631: A report from the children's oncology group

Background

Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a poor prognosis. Intensification of therapy has resulted in fewer relapses but increased early deaths, resulting in failure to improve survival.

Procedure

AALL0631 is a Phase 3 study for infants (<366 days of age) with newly diagnosed ALL. Induction initially (Cohort 1) consisted of 3 weeks of therapy based on COG P9407. Due to excessive early mortality, induction was amended to a less intensive 5 weeks of therapy based on Interfant‐99. Additionally, enhanced supportive care guidelines were incorporated with hospitalization during induction until evidence of marrow recovery and recommendations for prevention/treatment of infections (Cohort 2).

Results

Induction mortality was significantly lower for patients in Cohort 2 (2/123, 1.6%) versus Cohort 1 (4/26, 15.4%; P = 0.009). All induction deaths were infection related except one due to progressive disease (Cohort 2). Sterile site infections were lower for patients in Cohort 2 (24/123, 19.5%) versus Cohort 1 (15/26, 57.7%; P = 0.0002), with a significantly lower rate of Gram positive infections during induction for patients in Cohort 2, P = 0.0002. No clinically significant differences in grades 3–5 non‐infectious toxicities were observed between the two cohorts. Higher complete response rates were observed at end induction intensification for Cohort 2 (week 9, 94/100, 94%) versus Cohort 1 (week 7, 17/25, 68%; P = 0.0.0012).

Conclusion

De‐intensification of induction therapy and enhanced supportive care guidelines significantly decreased induction mortality and sterile site infections, without decreasing complete remission rates. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:414–418. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Standard and intermediate risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Poland: A report of the Polish Children's Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group

A total of 527 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) from the most frequent risk groups: standard risk group (SRG) and intermediate risk group (IRG) were treated between 1987 and 1991 according to an intensified treatment program (based on the BFM protocol) including the use of an intermediate dose of methotrexate in the IRG. A comparison of the treatment results in this group from 513 children treated between 1981 and 1987 indicates that the chance for a 6 year event-free survival has increased to 73% (previously 55%).     

Prolonged second remissions in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia: A report from the childrens cancer study group

To date, median duration of second and subsequent remissions in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) has been short, with most studies reporting median remission duration less than 6 months. In May 1979, the Childrens Cancer Study Group (CCSG) undertook a pilot study to assess the efficacy of a vincristine, methotrexate, and L-asparaginase regimen (modified Capizzi) for maintenance in children with ALL in second or subsequent remission. Thirty patients were treated with this maintenance regimen. By life table analysis, predicted median duration of hematologic remission was 57 weeks. Ten patients (33%) were in continuous hematologic remission at 1 year and three (10%) continue in remission > 2 years from maintenance onset. Major toxicity included leukoencephalopathy in four patients, three of whom had experienced at least one central nervous system relapse prior to study entry. Allergic reactions to Escherichia coli L-asparaginase were common. Nine of 30 patients experienced at least one CNS relapse during therapy. We conclude that a modified Capizzi regimen is the most effective regimen reported to date for maintaining second and subsequent remission in childhood ALL. CCSG is currently utilizing this regimen in an ongoing open study.     

Augmented therapy improves outcome for pediatric high risk acute lymphocytic leukemia: results of Children's Oncology Group trial P9906

Background

The augmented BFM regimen improves outcome for children with NCI high acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patient age, sex, and presenting white blood cell count (WBC) can be used to identify a subset of approximately 12% of children with B‐precursor ALL that had a 5‐year continuous complete remission (CCR) rate of only about 50% on earlier Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) trials.

Procedures

Children's Oncology Group trial P9906 evaluated a modified augmented BFM regimen in 267 patients with particularly high risk B‐precursor ALL. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed in blood at day 8 and in marrow at day 29 of induction and correlated with outcome.

Results

The 5‐year CCR probability for patients in P9906 was significantly better than that observed for similar patients on POG trials 8602/9006 (62.2 ± 3.7% vs. 50.6 ± 2.4%; P = 0.0007) but similar to POG 9406 (63.5 ± 2.4%; P = 0.81). Interim analysis showed poor central nervous system (CNS) control, especially in patients with initial WBC ≥100,000/microliter. Day 29 marrow MRD positive (≥0.01%) vs. negative patients had 5 year CCR rates of 37.1 ± 7.4% vs. 72.6 ± 4.3%; day 8 blood MRD positive vs. negative patients had 5 year CCR rates of 57.1 ± 4.6% vs.83.6 ± 6.3%. End induction marrow MRD predicted marrow but not CNS relapse. In multivariate analysis, day 29 MRD > 0.01%, initial WBC ≥ 100,000/µl, male gender, and day 8 blood MRD > 0.01% were significant prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Augmented BFM therapy improved outcome for children with higher risk ALL. Day 8 blood and day 29 marrow MRD were strong prognostic factors in these patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 569–577. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

     

GZ-2002急性淋巴细胞白血病化疗方案治疗非高危儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病多中心协作临床研究

目的探讨多中心合作开展小儿急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)化疗的可能性和提高ALL治愈率的新策略。方法协作组由广州市7家大型医院组成,各单位指定负责人1人,并设立专职资料管理员1人。协作组邀请香港中文大学威尔斯亲王医院为顾问单位。各单位对符合入选标准的新诊断标准危险型(SR)和中度危险型(IR)ALL患儿均采用GZ-2002 ALL化疗方案,所有病例按细胞形态学、免疫学和细胞遗传学分型。根据发病时的年龄、外周血白细胞、第8天的泼尼松反应、t(9:22)或t(4;11)、BCR/ABL和MLL/AF4融合基因,以及化疗第33天是否完全缓解确定临床类型。GZ-2002方案以BFM2002方案为基础,总疗程共104周,由诱导期、巩固期、再诱导期和维持期组成。结果 2002年10月~2009年6月,协作组共收治ALL患儿617例,随访至2009年10月31日,中位随访时间44.5个月(范围:4~84个月)。按协作组诊断标准,把儿童ALL分为SR、IR和高危型(HR)。入组采用GZ-2002 ALL化疗方案的SR和IR患儿共446例,男227例,女169例;年龄1~14岁(中位年龄6岁)。诱导期的总完全缓解率为99.8%(445/446)。SR组3年和5年无事件生存率(EFS)分别为(90.5±5.0)%和(82.0±4.0)%。IR组3年和5年EFS分别为(88.0±6.0)%和(78.0±5.0)%,两组差异均有显著性意义(P<0.05)。至随访终止日,共随访到回复病例413例,占总例数的92.6%。可随访例数中无事件生存者339例(82.1%),其中停药无病生存者267例(78.8%),进入维持阶段72例(21.2%)。有"事件"者78例(18.9%),其中复发47例(11.4%),非复发死亡20例(4.8%)。远期毒副作用8例(1.9%),第2肿瘤3例(0.7%);复发者已死亡24例(含6例复发后放弃),带病存活23例。死亡的中位时间为治疗后7.9个月(1.5~23个月)。失访33例,其中停药后失访5例,维持期间因出国、搬家、原联络地址变更和回原籍(广东省以外)等共28例。结论 GZ-2002 ALL化疗方案的疗效满意,广州地区多中心协作的模式是成功的,这种协作模式对推动我国开展更大规模的协作提供了宝贵的经验。     

影响儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病预后的多因素分析

目的探索影响儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)长期生存的预后因素。方法采用回顾性队列研究,对1998年1月1日至2003年7月1日我院小儿血液科就诊,治疗时间大于6个月,年龄小于15周岁且能够按时随访的ALL初诊患儿进行生存分析。结果76例患儿总诱导缓解率为94.7%,中位生存时间86个月,5年无事件生存率(5-EFS)为(70±1.23)%。合并数据COX回归多因素生存分析显示:初诊时外周血白细胞数50×109/L,血红蛋白含量(60 g/L,肝肋下≥5 cm,泼尼松诱导不敏感,诱导35天骨髓原始、幼稚淋巴细胞55%,治疗不依从,治疗过程中复发,均显著增加ALL儿童生存风险。结论初诊时外周血白细胞数和血红蛋白水平,肝脏肋下大小,35天骨髓原始、幼稚淋巴细胞比例,泼尼松诱导试验,治疗过程中复发,治疗依从性是影响ALL患儿长期生存的独立预后因素,提高治疗的依从性和个体化治疗对提高ALL儿童生存率有重要作用。     

ALL-XH-99方案治疗儿童急性淋巴细胞性白血病疗效分析

目的：由上海新华医院／上海儿童医学中心制定的治疗儿童急性淋巴细胞性白血病（ALL）的ALL-XH-99方案已在该院实施10年了。该文旨在评估应用此方案治疗儿童急性淋巴细胞性白血病（ALL）的疗效,并探讨儿童ALL的预后因素。方法：回顾分析1998年1月～2007年4月在该院采用ALL-XH-99方案治疗的儿童ALL的临床资料。该研究在ALL-XH-99方案的基础上作了一些小的修订,即对高危患儿也未给予颅脑放射治疗。采用Kaplan-Meier方法评估患儿的无事生存率（EFS）,组间患儿EFS差异用log-rank检验。采用逐步Cox比例风险模型分析ALL的预后因素。结果：115 例患儿得到了全程的ALL-XH-99方案治疗,其中低、中、高危患儿分别为62、12、41人。这115例患儿总的5年EFS率为（69.0±5.0）%,其中低危、中危、高危组5年的EFS率分别为(82.0±6.0)%、(77.0±15.0)% 和 (43.0±11.0)% （P< 0.01）。16例(13.9%)复发,复发的中位时间为17个月。所有病例均未采取颅脑放疗,中枢神经系统白血病复发率（2/115,1.7%）并未高于既往报道。多因素分析显示白血病危险分度、t(9;22)/bcr/abl融合基因和白细胞计数是儿童ALL独立的不利预后因素,其风险比例分别为1.867、3.397和2.236。结论：采用ALL-XH-99方案治疗儿童ALL疗效满意,取得了与发达国家类似的EFS率。t(9;22)/bcr/abl融合基因为儿童ALL最重要的不利预后因素。在强有力的系统化疗和鞘内注射条件下,对所有患儿可取消颅脑放疗以减少副作用。     

不同来源门冬酰胺酶在儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病应用的对照研究

目的观察菊欧文菌源性门冬酰胺酶(asp)及大肠杆菌源性asp在儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)治疗中的药物疗效及不良反应。方法随机选取新诊断的ALL患儿15例,其中9例患儿接受国产菊欧文菌源性asp治疗,6例患儿接受大肠杆菌源性asp治疗,化疗前后对两组患儿血浆内L-asp活性及门冬酰胺(ASN)水平进行检测,同时对两组患儿不良反应进行比较。结果在用药前,两组患儿血浆内L-asp活性与ASN水平差异无显著性;用药期间两组患儿血浆内的asp活性逐渐升高,ASN水平差异无显著性(P>0.05);停药后,L-asp活性及ASN水平在一周后可缓慢恢复至用药前水平。结论国产菊欧文菌源性asp有望成为ALL患儿化疗方案中有效的备选用药。     

Treatment delay and the risk of relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Delays or interruptions in chemotherapy due to toxicity such as neutropenia or severe infections are common in the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Based on the reports of worse outcomes in children with poorer compliance with therapy, there has been concern that toxicity-induced therapy interruptions could also compromise treatment outcome. In a retrospective study of treatment delays in our hospital between 2003 and 2013, the case notes of 141 patients were reviewed. The cumulative lengths of delays during the whole length of chemotherapy, during the intensive phase of treatment, and during maintenance treatment were analyzed. Within these categories, delays were split between less and more than the median value. The risk of relapse did not differ between patients with a longer or shorter delay during the total length of treatment or during the intensive phase. In addition, there was a trend when comparing patients above vs below the mean in length of treatment delays during maintenance, and there was a statistically significant difference in relapses when comparing patients in the lowest and highest quartiles of maintenance delays, with fewer relapses among those patients in the highest quartile for treatment delays.     

Adriamycin in combination chemotherapy of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A southwest oncology group study

Eighteen (72%) of 25 evaluable and previously untreated patients with adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia entered complete remission (CR) following induction therapy with Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone in a Southwest Oncology Group study. Remission maintenance therapy with methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine resulted in a median duration of CR of 10.2 months. The addition of Adriamycin to prednisone and vincristine may be beneficial in slow responders or nonresponders to these two drugs and in patients with initially high peripheral blood blast counts.     

Impact of the timing of triple intrathecal therapy on remission induction in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A pediatric oncology group study

Five weekly doses of triple intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy (methotrexate, hydrocortisone, cytosine arabinoside) starting on day 1 of treatment were added to systemic induction therapy in a regimen (Arm 3) that was compared to three other regimens (Arms 1, 2, and 4) in which central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis was initiated after complete marrow remission (CR) was attained. The CR rate for Arm 3 was only 83% as compared to 91-92% for other Arms. The lower CR rate was the result of a significantly higher death rate during induction for patients receiving early CNS prophylaxis (10.6 vs 0.9-3.5%). These differences were only observed in high risk patients as defined in the study. The early death rate was especially high (30%) in Arm 3 for children who were less than 2 years of age. Infection was the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. Severe infection following the initiation of induction therapy was found in 16.7% of patients on Arm 3 vs 1.8-6% on other regimens. Immediate triple IT chemoprophylaxis during induction therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia as use in this study appears to be associated with increased susceptibility to infection and this form of CNS prophylaxis has increased hazards of morbidity and mortality in infants and other high risk patients.     

Ovarian and multiple lymph nodes recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a case report and review of literature

Ovarian involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) without relapse in the bone marrow or other extramedullary site is rare. We report a case of ovarian relapse in a 13-year-old girl who was diagnosed with ALL at the age of 11. A complete remission was induced with the Children Cancer Group 1882 protocol for high-risk-groups. After maintenance chemotherapy, the patient remained in relatively good health for the next 4 months. The patient presented with intermittent colicky right lower quadrant pain of 1-day duration. The pelvic ultrasound (US) showed a lobulated mixed echogenic mass in the right ovary, and an exploratory laparotomy was performed. Although uncommon, ovarian recurrence after treatment for ALL should be considered in patients with suggestive symptoms. Regular pelvic US is easy to perform and has no side effects and can help detect ovarian tumors early in ALL survivors.     

Outcome of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma with hypersensitivity to pegaspargase treated with PEGylated Erwinia asparaginase,pegcrisantaspase: A report from the Children's Oncology Group

1 Background

Erwinia asparaginase is a Food and Drug Administration approved agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for patients who develop hypersensitivity to Escherichia coli derived asparaginases. Erwinia asparaginase is efficacious, but has a short half‐life, requiring six doses to replace one dose of the most commonly used first‐line asparaginase, pegaspargase, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated E. coli asparaginase. Pegcristantaspase, a recombinant PEGylated Erwinia asparaginase with improved pharmacokinetics, was developed for patients with hypersensitivity to pegaspargase. Here, we report a series of patients treated on a pediatric phase 2 trial of pegcrisantaspase.

2 Procedure

Pediatric patients with ALL or lymphoblastic lymphoma and hypersensitivity to pegaspargase enrolled on Children's Oncology Group trial AALL1421 (Jazz 13‐011) and received intravenous pegcrisantaspase. Serum asparaginase activity (SAA) was monitored before and after dosing; immunogenicity assays were performed for antiasparaginase and anti‐PEG antibodies and complement activation was evaluated.

3 Results

Three of the four treated patients experienced hypersensitivity to pegcrisantaspase manifested as clinical hypersensitivity reactions or rapid clearance of SAA. Immunogenicity assays demonstrated the presence of anti‐PEG immunoglobulin G antibodies in all three hypersensitive patients, indicating a PEG‐mediated immune response.

4 Conclusions

This small series of patients, nonetheless, provides data, suggesting preexisting immunogenicity against the PEG moiety of pegaspargase and poses the question as to whether PEGylation may be an effective strategy to optimize Erwinia asparaginase administration. Further study of larger cohorts is needed to determine the incidence of preexisting antibodies against PEG‐mediated hypersensitivity to pegaspargase.     

High-dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell autografts for children with first relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A pilot study of the children's cancer and leukemia study group of Japan (CCLSG)

This study was performed to determine the value of high-dose chemotherapy and peripheral blood stem cell autografts (PBSCT) in the treatment of children with first relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Eighteen children underwent PBSCT during the second complete remission (CR) and had a minimum 10 month follow-up. The median age of the patients was 11 yr (range, 2–17 yr). Fifteen patients received the “MCVAC” regimen, one received high-dose MCNU + busulfan therapy, one received high-dose melphalan + VP-16, and one received melphalan + carboplatin + cytosine arabinoside + MCNU. None of these regimens included total body irradiation. Eight patients developed recurrence of the disease at 1 to 19 mo (median, 3 mo) after PBSCT. Patients in whom the first relapse occurred sooner, that is, within 16 mo of initial therapy, tended to have a better survival rate than those who developed relapse after 30 mo (six of seven survived versus four of 11; not significant). Although the preliminary data provided little conclusive information, it did suggest that incorporation of PBSCT in the salvage protocol of relapsed childhood ALL can be justified. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.