Next‐generation sequencing of PTEN mutations for monitoring minimal residual disease in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis has become a powerful indicator to refine therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Here, we present an MRD detection based on the next‐generation sequencing of PTEN exon 7 mutations (NGS‐PTEN) in 30 pediatric T‐cell ALL patients. By comparing the NGS‐PTEN results with current quantitative PCR of antigen receptor gene rearrangements (qPCR‐Ig/TR), an overall concordance of 80% was found between the two methods. However, the NGS‐PTEN qualified a lower number of high‐risk patients than qPCR‐Ig/TR. These findings suggest that NGS‐PTEN is a promising tool that could potentially be used to support current MRD methodologies for T‐ALL patients.     

流式细胞技术与PCR技术联用筛选儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病微量残留病标记

目的：微量残留病（MRD）监测是儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）早期治疗反应中最重要的预后因素之一。目前常用的MRD检测的方法主要有流式细胞术和PCR技术,但单用一种方法均不能为所有的患儿找到合适的监测标记,该研究探讨两种方法联合应用是否能为大多数ALL患儿找到合适的MRD监测标记。方法：联合应用流式细胞术和PCR技术筛选上海儿童医学中心2001年9月至2003年10月126例新发ALL患儿骨髓标本的异常免疫表型及抗原受体基因重排。结果：①106例B系-ALL患儿骨髓标本用四色流式细胞术进行了MRD免疫表型标记的筛选,其中11例标本未筛选出监测标记,阳性率为89.6％;有1个监测标记的标本为11例（11.6％）,至少有两个标记的标本占88.4％。②PCR技术筛选27例ALL骨髓标本抗原受体基因重排,26例至少有一个标记（占96.3％）,其中9例（34.6％）骨髓标本只有一个监测标记,17例（65.4%）至少有两个监测标记。在T系-ALL骨髓标本中,以TCRVγⅠ-Jγ1.3/2.3阳性最多,双等位基因重排发生阳性率较高;系性交叉抗原表达在B系-ALL骨髓标本中表达较高,达57.1％（4/7）。③两种方法联用能为121例（96.0％）的患儿提供合适的筛选指标。结论：流式细胞技术检测异常免疫表型与PCR技术检测抗原受体基因重排联用,可为绝大多数的ALL患儿找到合适的MRD监测指标;在抗原受体基因重排中,存在系性交叉抗原表达及双等位基因重排。［中国当代儿科杂志,2009,11（4）：246-250］     

Blinatumomab activity in a patient with Down syndrome B‐precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) after consolidation may indicate chemotherapy insensitivity in B‐precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BP‐ALL). Given the strong association of MRD and outcome in non‐Down syndrome (non‐DS) BP‐ALL, it is likely that MRD levels are also of prognostic significance in DS BP‐ALL. We report here the successful use of blinatumomab, a bispecific T‐cell engager antibody construct, in a patient with DS BP‐ALL and persistent MRD at the end of consolidation. Blinatumomab has been shown to have excellent results in patients with relapsed/refractory BP‐ALL. This patient had no significant toxicity and achieved MRD negativity after only one cycle of blinatumomab.     

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.

     

急性B淋巴细胞白血病患儿微小残留病流式细胞术检测的临床意义

目的研究使用流式细胞术检测小儿急性B淋巴细胞白血病(acutelymphoblasticleukemia,ALL)微小残留病(minimalresidualdisease,MRD)的临床预后价值。方法能将残留白血病细胞与正常骨髓细胞区分开来的抗体组合称为有效抗体组合。我们使用流式细胞术对36例具有有效抗体组合的BALL患儿缓解后的骨髓标本进行MRD的定期检测。对6例无有效抗体组合的患儿,我们使用CD45/CD19/CD34/CD10与CD45/CD19/CD20/CD22两个抗体组合定期检测骨髓标本。结果(1)在42例患儿中有36例(86%)具有有效抗体组合;(2)在治疗6个月时间点时,MRD水平≥10-4的患儿(13例)无病生存率(diseasefreesurvival,DFS)与MRD水平<10-4的患儿(12例)相比无统计学意义(P=0.62);在治疗9个月时,MRD水平≥10-4的患儿(10例)要比MRD水平<10-4的患儿(13例)生存率低(P=0.025);在治疗12个月时,MRD水平≥10-4的患儿(8例)要比MRD水平<10-4的患儿(9例)生存率低(P=0.042);(3)共有7例患儿复发,其中6例复发患儿在复发前的4～10个月均检测到≥10-3水平的MRD。在随访过程中至少有1次MRD水平≥10-3患儿的无病生存率较MRD水平在10-3以下的患儿为低(P=0.003);(4)5例复发患儿的免疫表型基本未发生变化,只有1例丢失了CD13抗原;(5)在6例无有效抗体组合患儿中未发现有意义的MRD。结论(1)MRD水平在10-3或以上的患儿预后较差;(2)治疗9个月与12个月时间点的MRD水平有预后价值;(3)对于无有效抗体组合的患儿,CD45/CD19/CD34/CD10与CD45/CD19/CD20/CD22抗体组合的效果应进一步评估。     

Absence of biallelic TCRγ deletion predicts induction failure and poorer outcomes in childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background

The absence of biallelic TCRγ deletion (ABD) is a characteristic of early thymocyte precursors before V(D)J recombination. The ABD was reported to predict early treatment failure in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This study aimed to investigate its prognostic value in Taiwanese patients with T‐cell ALL.

Procedure

Forty‐five children with T‐cell ALL were enrolled from six medical centers in Taiwan. Quantitative DNA polymerase chain reaction (Q‐PCR) was performed to check the status of TCRγ deletion. The threshold for homozygous deletions by Q‐PCR was defined as a fold‐change <0.35.

Results

ABD was found in 20 patients [20:45] who had higher incidences of induction failure than those without ABD (P = 0.03; hazard ratio [HR] = 8.13; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.23–53.77) after multivariate regression analysis. Patents with ABD also had inferior EFS and OS (P = 0.071 and 0.0196, respectively). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that the association between ABD and overall survival was independent of age and leukocyte count on presentation (P = 0.036; HR = 4.25; 95% CI = 1.10–16.42).

Conclusions

The absence of TCRγ deletion is a predictor of a poor response to induction chemotherapy for pediatric patients with T‐cell ALL in Taiwan. Providing patients with T‐cell ALL and ABD with alternative regimens may be worthwhile to test in future clinical trials. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 846–851. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Transferring measurable residual disease measurement in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia from quantitative real-time PCR to digital droplet PCR

Background

Since the measurement of measurable residual disease (MRD) is part of clinical routine examination for children affected with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), continuous efforts are made to improve its method, applicability and accuracy. Whereas quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is considered as the gold standard for MRD detection and endowed with international guidelines for implementation and evaluation, these do not yet exist for digital droplet PCR (ddPCR). However, advantages are seen in droplet partitioning for MRD measurement to allow absolute quantification without depending on reference samples.

Methods

In this study, 17 MRD targets of nine patients with childhood B-ALL were analyzed with qPCR and ddPCR, respectively. All patients were assigned to high risk group and had hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and CD19 antibody therapy for relapse prevention. Starting with the sequences and guidelines of qPCR and optimizing the protocol for ddPCR, the MRD targets could also be measured precisely with this novel method, using the same primer and probe sets as for qPCR.

Results

The already established MRD protocol of qPCR could be transferred to ddPCR and all 17 MRD targets were measured in dilution series reaching comparable Limit of detection levels with both PCR methods.

Conclusions

With a given qPCR protocol and some experience in conventional MRD monitoring, it is conceivable to transfer the procedure of MRD measurement to ddPCR technology. Our data is in line with other studies which are summarized and discussed here as well to facilitate the transfer of MRD diagnostics to ddPCR.     

Rapid Capture Next‐Generation Sequencing in Clinical Diagnostics of Kinase Pathway Aberrations in B‐Cell Precursor ALL

Comprehensive next‐generation sequencing (NGS) applications have recently identified various recurrent kinase and cytokine receptor rearrangements in Ph‐like B‐cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) amenable to tyrosin kinase inhibitor treatment. For rapid diagnostics of kinase pathway aberrations in minimal residual disease (MRD) high‐risk BCP‐ALL, we developed a PCR‐independent NGS custom enrichment capture panel targeting recurrent genomic alterations, which allows for the identification of unknown 5′ fusion partner genes and precise mapping of variable genomic breakpoints. Using a standardized bioinformatics algorithm, we identified kinase and cytokine receptor rearrangements in the majority of ALL patients with high burden of postinduction MRD and enrichment of IKZF1 mutation or deletion (IKZF1^del).     

MRD监测对儿童B系急性淋巴细胞性白血病疗效评估的意义

目的：研究监测微小残留白血病(MRD)在B系急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）患儿治疗中的作用。方法：回顾性研究了2001年9月1日至2005年4月31日,采用ALL-XH-99方案治疗的B系ALL患儿中进行MRD监测的患儿共124例。用四色多参数流式细胞仪监测ALL患儿治疗过程中不同时间点的MRD。结果：在124例进行过MRD监测的B系ALL患儿中,其中MRD<0.01%、0.01%~0.1%和>0.1%的分别有103例、13例和8例,其5年无复发生存率（RFS）分别为（88.9±3.9）%、（70.0±14.5）%和0%,而5年无事生存率（EFS）分别为（82.4±4.4）%、（21.2±18.0）%和0%,两者均P<0.01;将首次CR后半年内MRD检查分成阴性（<0.01％）和阳性两组,其5年RFS分别为（87.7±4.1）%和（58.3±14.2）%,（P<0.01）;5年EFS分别为（80.7±4.6）%和（25.6±13.8）%（P<0.01）;首次CR后半年以后MRD检查阴性和阳性两组的5年RFS分别为（92.0±3.6）%和（48.5±15.5）%（P<0.01）。多因素分析显示结果显示诱导缓解后MRD、泼尼松诱导窗口反应、第19天骨髓象是否达M-1级骨髓象和是否检出BCR-ABL或MLL-AF4融合基因对患儿治疗过程中是否发生复发有预后价值（P<0．05)。结论： 在B系ALL患儿治疗过程中,无论在诱导缓解达到CR时,还是在随后的治疗过程中,监测MRD水平对于评估ALL患儿疗效有重要意义。     

Real-time quantitative PCR: standardized detection of minimal residual disease in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Polymerase chain reaction

PURPOSE: To develop a standardized real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method of quantifying minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a series of 24 follow-up bone marrow (BM) samples in 11 patients (14 clonal markers), we performed real-time PCR assays using one consensus and one clone-specific primer for each marker. The markers analyzed included immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH), T-cell receptor (TCR) and TEL-AML1 rearrangements. RESULTS: We achieved a detection limit of 3.3 x 10(-5) +/- 1.2 x 10(-5) and an accurate quantitation (r = -0.99) limit of 2.0 x 10(-4) +/- 8.8 x 10(-5) blasts. Both inter- and intra-assay reproducibility were exceptional. Additionally, we found comparable results to those of a "gold standard" limiting-dilution PCR assay (r = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: The IgH, TCR and TEL-AML1 markers can be used as targets by real-time PCR under the same cycling profile, allowing quantitation of MRD in more 95% of patients with pre-B ALL. This standardized, real-time PCR technique should simplify monitoring MRD in clinical trials.     

以免疫球蛋白和T细胞受体基因重排为标志定量检测MLL基因重排儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病的微小残留病和预后关系

目的 探讨MLL基因重排儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）微小残留病（MRD）与临床特征的关系及其对预后的指导作用。方法 以2003年4月至2009年12月首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院血液肿瘤中心收治的MLL基因重排的ALL患儿为研究对象。以免疫球蛋白和T细胞受体基因重排、MLL融合转录本为标志,定量PCR方法监测MRD水平。以诱导治疗结束时MRD水平≥10-4为MRD阳性组,<10-4为MRD阴性组。卡方检验和Kaplan-Meier生存分析分别比较MRD阳性和阴性组临床特征和无事件生存率（EFS）的差异。结果 14例ALL患儿在诱导治疗结束时检测了MRD水平,MRD阳性组患儿初诊时外周血WBC计数显著高于MRD阴性组,对泼尼松实验治疗反应显著低于MRD阴性组。MRD阴性组5年EFS显著优于MRD阳性组,100% vs （37.5±17.1）%,P=0.022。结论 诱导治疗结束时MRD水平有助于对MLL基因重排儿童ALL进行预后分组,指导个体化治疗、改善预后。     

Five-year single-center study of asparaginase therapy within the ALL-BFM 2000 trial

Background

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of asparaginase (ASNase), a fundamental element of acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment, was integrated in the ALL‐BFM 2000 protocol on a voluntary basis.

Methods

Over a 5‐year period, 127 patients (1,355 samples) were monitored for asparaginase activity in a single‐center setting. We report monitoring data from throughout the ASNase containing treatment elements. Additional information obtained on risk stratification, minimal residual disease (MRD), steroid randomization and relapse is discussed in relation to ASNase activity.

Results

At completion of the induction phase 93% (115/124) of patients showed sufficient ASNase activity (5,000 U/m² Escherichia coli ASNase), 77 of 86 (90%) monitored patients finished the first re‐intensification element without requiring Erwinia ASNase. MRD, risk stratification and steroid randomization were not associated with significant differences in ASNase activity. Of patients who relapsed, only 25% (3/12) were able to maintain sufficient ASNase activity after E. coli ASNase.

Conclusion

This single‐center data set gives a true and unbiased insight into clinical reality of ASNase therapy. It shows no significant relationship between MRD positivity or risk stratification and ASNase treatment intensity. Overall, within the ALL‐BFM 2000 trial, 90% of patients completed first re‐intensification without requiring third‐line Erwinia ASNase. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 378–384. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

实时定量聚合酶链反应检测微小残留白血病的临床研究

目的 探讨并研究实时定量聚合酶链反应(RQ—PCR)技术定量检测小儿急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)微小残留病(MRD)的临床适用性和临床价值。方法 以免疫球蛋白重链(IgH)基因重排作为ALL的肿瘤标志,应用RQ—PCR、胚系探针策略,定量检测了34例B细胞ALL(B—ALL)患儿的MRD,并对其中的16例患儿进行了缓解期MRD的定量动态追踪观察。结果在34例B—ALL患儿的初治标本中IgH基因单克隆重排16例,对16例单克隆IgH重排靶基因进行序列分析发现,V片段使用最频繁的是V3家族,J片段使用最频繁的是J4和J6。在16个靶基因中,RQ—PCR的检测敏感度有9例为10-4,6例为10-5,1例为10-3,非特异性扩增见于6例患儿。16例初治患儿的标准曲线相关系数均为0.99以上,斜率均值为-3.34±0.37,截距均值为24.30±2.95。对16例患儿随访期样本的MRD动态追踪研究发现,复发患儿的MRD水平较高且复发前有动态增加。诱导化疗结束时的MRD水平与ALL高危因素无明显相关性(P>0.05)。结论 研究表明,RQ—PCR技术胚系探针策略检测ALL患儿的MRD具有临床适用性,随访期标本MRD的定量检测及动态追踪监测具有临床价值。     

Intensified chemotherapy without SCT in infant ALL: Results from COG P9407 (Cohort 3)

Background

Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) present with aggressive disease and a poor prognosis. Early relapse within 6–9 months of diagnosis is common. Approximately 75% of infants have MLL‐rearranged (MLL‐R) ALL with event free survival (EFS) ranging from 20% to 30%. Children's Oncology Group (COG) P9407 used shortened (46 weeks), intensified therapy to address early relapse and poor EFS.

Procedure

P9407 therapy was modified three times for induction toxicity resulting in three cohorts of therapy. One hundred forty‐seven infants were enrolled in the third cohort.

Results

We report an overall 5‐year EFS and OS of 42.3 ± 6% and 52.9 ± 6.5% respectively. Poor prognostic factors included age ≤90 days at diagnosis, MLL‐R ALL and white cell count ≥50,000/μl. For infants ≤90 days of age, the 5‐year EFS was 15.5 ± 10.1% and 48.5 ± 6.7% for those >90 days (P < 0.0001). Among infants >90 days of age, 5‐year EFS rates were 43.8 ± 8% for MLL‐R versus 69.1 ± 13.6% for MLL‐germline ALL (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Age ≤90 days at diagnosis was the most important prognostic factor. Despite shortened therapy with early intensification, EFS remained less than 50% overall in MLL‐R ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:419–426. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Detectable minimal residual disease before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation predicts extremely poor prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND: The level of minimal residual disease (MRD) prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor for outcome of pediatric patients with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Retrospective studies which used (semi-) quantitation of clone-specific immunoglobulin/T-cell receptor (Ig/TCR) rearrangements have documented the feasibility and practicality of this technique. This approach has also been disputed due to the occurrence of clonal evolution and generally high MRD levels prior to HSCT. PROCEDURE: In our prospective study, MRD before and after HSCT was monitored using quantitative real-time PCR in a cohort of 36 children with ALL consecutively transplanted in our center between VIII/2000 and VII/2004. RESULTS: In 25 of 36 patients, MRD level prior HSCT was assessed. Seventeen patients were classified as MRD-negative and eight were MRD-positive up to 9 x 10(-2). In MRD-positive subgroup, seven events (six relapses) occurred post-transplant in striking contrast to only one relapse in MRD-negative subgroup (event-free survival (EFS) log-rank P < 0.0001). MRD proved to be the only significant prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001). Adoptive immunotherapy including donor lymphocyte infusions in patients with adverse dynamics of MRD after HSCT had only limited and/or temporary effect. Clonal evolution did not present a problem precluding MRD monitoring in any of patients suffering a post-transplant relapse. CONCLUSIONS: We show that MRD quantitation using clonal Ig/TCR rearrangements successfully assesses the risk in pediatric ALL patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT. As our ability to treat detectable MRD levels after HSCT is very limited, alternative strategies for MRD-positive patients prior HSCT are necessary.     

Impact of post‐transplant minimal residual disease on the clinical outcome of pediatric acute leukemia

This retrospective study examined the clinical significance of FCM‐MRD in 36 patients with ALL and 29 patients with AML after their first allogeneic HSCT. Hematological (FCM‐MRD ≥5.0%) and molecular relapse (FCM‐MRD <5.0%) were first detected in 10 and two patients with ALL and in seven and eight patients with AML, respectively. Eight of 10 patients with molecular relapse eventually progressed to hematological relapse, although most were treated with immunological intervention by aggressive discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy or donor lymphocyte infusion. Among these 12 patients, four of seven patients that obtained MRD^neg CR following post‐transplant chemotherapy remain alive and disease‐free after their second HSCT; however, all five patients who underwent a second HSCT in non‐CR died of disease or treatment‐related complications. As the FCM‐MRD monitoring system used in the current study was probably not sensitive enough to detect MRD, which could be elucidated by immunological intervention, more sensitive diagnostic tools are mandatory for post‐transplant MRD monitoring. Additional studies are required to address the impact of presecond transplant MRD on the clinical outcome of second HSCT.     

Impact of pretransplant minimal residual disease on the post‐transplant outcome of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

There are few reports on the clinical significance of MRD before HSCT in pediatric ALL. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical significance of FCM‐based detection of MRD (FCM‐MRD) before allogeneic HSCT in pediatric ALL. Of 38 pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for the first time between 1998 and 2014, 33 patients were in CR and five patients were in non‐CR. The CR group was further divided into two groups based on the pretransplant FCM‐MRD level: the MRD^neg (<0.01%; 30 patients) group and the MRD^pos (≥0.01%; three patients) group. There were significant differences in the three‐yr event‐free survival rates between the CR and non‐CR group, and between the MRD^neg and MRD^pos group. The three‐yr cumulative RI in the MRD^neg group were 27.3% ± 8.8%, whereas two of the three patients in the MRD^pos group relapsed within one yr after HSCT. The clinical outcome of the MRD^pos group was as poor as that of the non‐CR group in pediatric ALL. Therefore, an improvement in pretransplant treatment that aims to achieve a more profound remission would contribute to reducing the risk of relapse.     

儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病微小残留病的检测及其临床意义

尽管目前儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病诱导缓解率已明显提高,但仍有部分患儿完全缓解后复发.微小残留病(MRD)的存在是导致其复发的主要原因.研究表明MRD的有无及其高低不但反映了个体对治疗的反应情况,还能用于临床危险度分型及移植后复发风险的评估.该文对MRD的检测方法及临床意义作一综述.     

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??Abstract??Objective To explore the feasibility of monitoring minimal residual disease ??MRD?? in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia ??ALL?? by detection of cloned IgH and TCRγ gene rearrangements using multiplex polymerase chain-reaction ??PCR?? and automated fragment analysis. Methods In this 1??3 matched case-control study?? 4 cases of very early bone marrow relapsed non-high risk ALL ??relapsed group?? and 12 cases of non-relapsed non-high risk ALL as control ??control group?? were enrolled in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 2009 to Dec.2011. All patients were treated with Guangdong 2008 ALL protocol. Bone marrow samples were collected at four time points: at diagnosis?? the end of induction?? the beginning of reinduction and the third month of maintenace treatment. Cloned IgH and TCRγ gene rearrangements were amplified by multiplex PCR. The clonality of PCR production was analyzed by GENEMAPPERID softwares. Detectable clonality of IgH/TCRγ was defined as MRD positive. Results At diagnosis?? the frequency of cloned IgH and TCRγ in all patients was 100% and 56%. The positive rate of MRD was found to have no statistical difference between two groups at the end of induction?? while the difference of the MRD positive proportion between the two groups was statistically significant at the beginning of reinduction and the third month of maintenane therapy?? which was much more higher in relapse group than that of control group. Conclusion Detection of monoclonal IgH/TCRγ gene rearrangements by multiplex PCR with automated fragment analysis can be used as a method to monitor MRD during treatment for childhood ALL.     

A medication diary‐book for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Indonesia

Background

Event‐free survival of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia was low (20%). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using a medication diary‐book on the treatment outcome of childhood ALL.

Procedure

A randomized study was conducted with 109 pediatric patients with ALL in a pediatric oncology center in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Both intervention and control groups received a structured parental education program and donated chemotherapy. The intervention group received a medication diary‐book to remind parents and families to take oral chemotherapy and present for scheduled appointments or admissions. Event‐free survival estimate (EFS) at 3 years was assessed.

Results

Among pediatric patients with ALL with highly educated mothers (senior high school or higher), the EFS‐estimate at 3 years of the intervention group was significantly higher than the EFS‐estimate at 3 years of the control group (62% vs. 29%, P = 0.04). Among pediatric patients with ALL with low‐educated mothers, no significant difference was found in the EFS‐estimates at 3 years between the intervention and control group (26% vs. 18%, P = 0.86).

Conclusions

We conclude that a medication diary‐book might be useful to improve the survival of pediatric patients with ALL in resource‐limited settings, particularly in patients with highly educated mothers. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:1593–1597. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.