Augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster therapy abrogates the adverse prognostic significance of slow early response to induction chemotherapy for children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and unfavorable presenting features: a report from the Children's Cancer Group.

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 2222-2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Nachman ◽  
H N Sather ◽  
P S Gaynon ◽  
J N Lukens ◽  
L Wolff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Intensive Chemotherapy ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Avascular Necrosis Of Bone

PURPOSE Compared with previous Children's Cancer Group (CCG) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) trials, therapy based on the Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) 76 trial has effected an improvement in event-free survival (EFS). In an attempt to improve EFS further, CCG investigators formulated an augmented BFM (A-BFM) regimen that provides prolonged, intensified postinduction chemotherapy relative to the CCG-modified BFM regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS We tested A-BFM in 101 patients with ALL and unfavorable presenting features that showed slow early response (SER) to induction therapy who attained remission on day 28. Their outcome was compared with that of 251 concurrent patients with unfavorable presenting features, a rapid early response to therapy (RER), and remission by day 28, treated with CCG-BFM with or without cranial radiation (CRT). RESULTS The 4-year EFS rate from the end of induction for SER patients treated with A-BFM was 70.8% +/- 4.6%. Seventeen patients remain in continuous remission beyond 5 years. Vincristine (VCR) neurotoxicity developed in 50% of patients, but was rarely debilitating. Allergies to Escherichia coli L-asparaginase (L-ASP) occurred in 35% of patients. Avascular necrosis of bone (AVN) developed in 9% of patients. In comparison, a concurrent RER group treated with standard BFM +/- CRT had a 4-year EFS rate of 73.1% +/- 4.6%. CONCLUSION The toxicity of A-BFM is significant, but acceptable. Compared with historical control SER patients treated with CCG-modified BFM, A-BFM therapy appears to produce a significant improvement in EFS. This is the first study to show that intensive chemotherapy, as given in the A-BFM regimen, can abrogate the adverse prognostic significance of SER.

Clinical significance of translocation t(1;19) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the context of contemporary therapies: a report from the Children's Cancer Group.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
F M Uckun ◽  
M G Sensel ◽  
H N Sather ◽  
P S Gaynon ◽  
D C Arthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
B Lineage ◽  
The Individual

PURPOSE The nonrandom translocation t(1;19) has been associated with poor outcome in pediatric B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Because most patients treated by contemporary therapies now achieve improved outcomes, we have reassessed the prognostic significance of t(1;19). PATIENTS AND METHODS Cytogenetic data were accepted for 1,322 children (<21 years old) with newly diagnosed ALL enrolled between 1988 and 1994 on risk-adjusted studies of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG). Forty-seven patients (3.6%) were t(1;19) positive (+); 1,275 (96.4%) were t(1;19) negative (-). Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome were compared using standard methods. RESULTS Translocation (1;19)+ patients were more likely than t(1;19)- patients to be 10 years of age or greater (P < .001) or CD10+ CD19+ CD34- (P < .0001), or nonwhite (P = .02). Patients with a balanced t(1;19) were less likely to be hyperdiploid than patients with an unbalanced der(19)t(1;19). Event-free survival (EFS) was similar for the overall group of t(1;19)+ and t(1;19)- patients, with 4-year estimates of 69.5% (SD, 6.8%) and 74.8% (SD, 1.3%; P = .48), respectively. However, patients with unbalanced der(19)t(1;19) had significantly better outcomes than patients with balanced t(1;19): 4-year EFS were 80.6% (SD, 7.1%) and 41.7% (SD, 13.5%), respectively (P = .003). These differences were maintained within the individual studies analyses and after exclusion of t(1;19)+ patients whose cells were hyperdiploid with more than 50 chromosomes. CONCLUSION The overall group of t(1;19)+ patients, as well as the subgroup with an unbalanced der(19)+ (1;19) had outcomes similar to that of t(1;19)- patients, whereas patients with balanced t(1;19) had poorer outcomes. Thus, although the overall prognostic significance of t(1;19) has been obviated by contemporary risk-adjusted protocols, the balanced t(1;19) translocation remains an adverse prognostic factor.

scholarly journals Prognostic significance of CD20 expression in childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (10) ◽  
pp. 3302-3304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Jeha ◽  
Frederick Behm ◽  
Deqing Pei ◽  
John T. Sandlund ◽  
Raul C. Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Prognostic Impact ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Cell Precursor ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cd20 Expression ◽  
Therapy Studies

Abstract CD20 expression is associated with inferior survival in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We analyzed the prognostic impact of CD20 expression in 353 children with B-cell precursor ALL treated in 3 consecutive St Jude Total Therapy studies. CD20 expression (> 20%) was found in 169 patients (48%) and was more frequent in patients between 1 and 10 years of age than in those younger than 1 or older than 10 years (P = .001). None of 14 patients with MLL-AF4 expressed CD20. There was no association between CD20 expression and E2A-PBX, TEL-AML1, ploidy, white blood cell count at diagnosis, or sex. In contrast to the experience in adult ALL, our patients with CD20 expression tended to have a better treatment outcome than those without the expression: 5-year event-free survival 84% ± 2.9% versus 78% ± 3.1% (P = .08). These data suggest that CD20 expression is not associated with inferior outcome in pediatric patients treated with contemporary regimens.

Treatment Outcome and Prognostic Factors for Infants With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated on Two Consecutive Trials of the Children's Cancer Group

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory H. Reaman ◽  
Richard Sposto ◽  
Martha G. Sensel ◽  
Beverly J. Lange ◽  
James H. Feusner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Induction Therapy ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Historical Controls

PURPOSE: Infants represent a very poor risk group for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report treatment outcome for such patients treated with intensive therapy on consecutive Children's Cancer Group (CCG) protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1993, infants with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled onto CCG-107 (n = 99) and CCG-1883 (n = 135) protocols. Postconsolidation therapy was more intensive on CCG-1883. On both studies, prophylactic treatment of the CNS included both high-dose systemic chemotherapy and intrathecal therapy, in contrast to whole-brain radiotherapy, which was used in earlier studies. RESULTS: Most patients (> 95%) achieved remission with induction therapy. The most frequent event was a marrow relapse (46 patients on CCG-107 and 66 patients on CCG-1883). Four-year event-free survival was 33% (SE = 4.7%) on CCG-107 and 39% (SE = 4.2%) on CCG-1883. Both studies represent an improvement compared with a 22% (SE = 5.1%) event-free survival for historical controls. Four-year cumulative probabilities of any marrow relapse or an isolated CNS relapse were, respectively, 49% (SE = 5%) and 9% (SE = 3%) on CCG-107 and 50% (SE = 5%) and 3% (SE = 2%) on CCG-1883, compared with 63% (SE = 6%) and 5% (SE = 3%) for the historical controls. Independent adverse prognostic factors were age less than 3 months, WBC count of more than 50,000/μL, CD10 negativity, slow response to induction therapy, and presence of the translocation t(4;11). CONCLUSION: Outcome for infants on CCG-107 and CCG-1883 improved, compared with historical controls. Marrow relapse remains the primary mode of failure. Isolated CNS relapse rates are low, indicating that intrathecal chemotherapy combined with very-high-dose systemic therapy provides adequate protection of the CNS. The overall unsatisfactory outcome observed for the infant ALL population warrants the future use of novel alternative therapies.

scholarly journals CD2 antigen expression on leukemic cells as a predictor of event-free survival after chemotherapy for T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Children's Cancer Group study

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 4288-4295 ◽  
Author(s):  
FM Uckun ◽  
PG Steinherz ◽  
H Sather ◽  
M Trigg ◽  
D Arthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Antigen Expression ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Standard Risk

Abstract We examined the prognostic impact of CD2 antigen expression for 651 patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who were enrolled in front-line Childrens Cancer Group treatment studies between 1983 and 1994. There was a statistically significant correlation between the CD2 antigen positive leukemic cell content of bone marrow and probability of remaining in bone marrow remission, as well as overall event-free survival (EFS) (P = .0003 and P = .002, log-rank tests for linear trend). When compared with patients with the highest CD2 expression level (> 75% positivity), the life table relative event rate (RER) was 1.22 for patients with intermediate range CD2 expression level (30% to 75% positivity) and 1.81 for “CD2-negative” patients (< 30% positivity). At 6 years postdiagnosis, the EFS estimates for the three CD2 expression groups (low positivity to high positivity) were 52.8%, 65.5%, and 71.9%, respectively. CD2 expression remained a significant predictor of EFS after adjustment for the effects of other covariates by multivariate regression, with a RER of 1.47 for CD2- negative patients (P = .04). Analysis of T-lineage ALL patients shows a significant separation in EFS after adjustment for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) age and white blood cell (WBC) criteria for standard and high-risk ALL (P = .002, RER = 1.67). The determination of CD2 expression on leukemic cells helped identify patients with the better and poorer prognoses in both of these risk group subsets. For standard risk T-lineage ALL, CD2-negative patients had a worse outcome (P = .0007, RER = 2.92) with an estimated 5-year EFS of 55.9% as compared with 78.3% for the CD2-positive patients. Thus, CD2 negativity in standard risk T-lineage ALL identified a group of patients who had a worse outcome than high-risk T-lineage ALL patients who were CD2 positive. The percentage of CD2 antigen positive leukemic cells from T- lineage ALL patients is a powerful predictor of EFS after chemotherapy. This prognostic relationship is the first instance in which a biological marker in T-lineage ALL has been unequivocally linked to treatment outcome.

Obesity and Outcome in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (15) ◽  
pp. 2063-2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Butturini ◽  
Frederick J. Dorey ◽  
Beverly J. Lange ◽  
David W. Henry ◽  
Paul S. Gaynon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Prognostic Variables ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Nonobese Patients

PurposeTo evaluate the effect of obesity (defined as a body mass index > 95th percentile for age and sex at diagnosis) on outcome of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 4,260 patients with newly diagnosed ALL enrolled from 1988 to 1995 onto five concurrent Children's Cancer Group studies. Results were verified in a second cohort of 1,733 patients enrolled onto a sixth study from 1996 to 2002.ResultsThe 1988 to 1995 cohort included 343 obese and 3,971 nonobese patients. The 5-year event-free survival rate and risk of relapse in obese versus nonobese patients were 72% ± 2.4% v 77% ± 0.6% (P = .02) and 26 ± 2.4 v 20 ± 0.6 (P = .02), respectively. After adjusting for other prognostic variables, obesity's hazard ratios (HRs) of events and relapses were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.77; P = .021) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.56; P = .04), respectively. The effect of obesity was prominent in the 1,003 patients ≥ 10 years old at diagnosis; in this subset, obesity's adjusted HRs of events and relapses were 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1; P = .009) and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1; P = .013), respectively. In a second cohort of 1,160 patients ≥ 10 years old, obesity's adjusted HRs of events and relapses were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.96; P = .032) and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.13 to 2.41; P = .009), respectively. The effect of obesity on outcome was unrelated to changes in chemotherapy doses, length of intervals between chemotherapy cycles, or incidence and severity of therapy-related toxicity.ConclusionObesity at diagnosis independently predicts likelihood of relapse and cure in preteenagers and adolescents with ALL.

Augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (ABFM) regimen for children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (SR-ALL) and slow early response (SER)

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9511-9511
Author(s):  
Y. H. Matloub ◽  
A. Angiolillo ◽  
B. Bostrom ◽  
L. Stork ◽  
S. P. Hunger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Standard Regimen ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Standard Risk

9511 Background: Numerous studies have shown that SER in ALL has a negative impact on outcome. Children's Cancer Group CCG-1882 demonstrated that post-induction intensification greatly improved the outcome of children with high-risk ALL and SER. Five year event-free-survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) for the augmented regimen was 75 ± 4% vs 55 ± 4.5%, and 78 ± 4% vs 67 ± 5% for the standard regimen, p <0.001 and 02 respectively (N Engl J Med 1998; 338:1663–71). Methods: Therefore, COG-1952 and COG- 1991, studies for patients with SR-ALL, assigned the slow early responders to augmented therapy, while others were randomized according to the study design. Study eligibility criteria were similar for both, and included newly diagnosed children with National Cancer Institute SR criteria. COG-1952 accrued a total of 2,027 patients and COG-1991 accrued 3,054. In COG-1952 patients were deemed SER if their day-7 marrow had >5% blasts, and their day-14 marrow >25%. COG-1991 used the same criteria for SER, but also added patients whose day-7 marrow had >25% blasts and their day-14 marrow had >5% blasts to the SER group. This was based on the unfavorable outcome of this subgroup in COG-1952. The augmented therapy in COG-1991 like the CCG-1882 and COG-1952, was based on a COG-modified ABFM, but differed in using dexamethasone as the sole steroid and pegylated asparaginase as the asparaginase preparation, as compared to prednisone in induction and maintenance, and native E coli asparaginase. Results: Comparative groups with days 7 and 14 M3 marrows and unfavorable cytogenetics included 126 patients from COG-1991 and 81 from the COG-1952 were assigned to their corresponding ABFM regimens. Four year EFS and OS were 85% ± 5% and 90 ± 4% for CCG-1991 vs 61 ± 5.6% and 75 ± 5% for CCG-1952, p = 0.003 and 0.04 respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that the use of dexamethasone, and pegylated asparaginase greatly improves the outcome of children with NCI-SR with SER treated on a modified augmented BFM therapy, thus supporting the use of these agents in ALL therapy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

scholarly journals Dasatinib Plus Intensive Chemotherapy in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults With Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Results of Children’s Oncology Group Trial AALL0622

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (22) ◽  
pp. 2306-2314 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Slayton ◽  
Kirk R. Schultz ◽  
John A. Kairalla ◽  
Meenakshi Devidas ◽  
Xinlei Mi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome ◽  
Cranial Irradiation ◽  
Intensive Chemotherapy ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Standard Risk ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome Positive

Purpose Addition of imatinib to intensive chemotherapy improved survival for children and young adults with Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Compared with imatinib, dasatinib has increased potency, CNS penetration, and activity against imatinib-resistant clones. Patients and Methods Children’s Oncology Group (COG) trial AALL0622 (Bristol Myers Squibb trial CA180-204) tested safety and feasibility of adding dasatinib to intensive chemotherapy starting at induction day 15 in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia age 1 to 30 years. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) was recommended for patients at high risk based on slow response and for those with a matched family donor regardless of response after at least 11 weeks of therapy. Patients at standard risk based on rapid response received chemotherapy plus dasatinib for an additional 120 weeks. Patients with overt CNS leukemia received cranial irradiation. Results Sixty eligible patients were enrolled. Five-year overall (OS) and event-free survival rates (± standard deviations [SD]) were 86% ± 5% and 60% ± 7% overall, 87% ± 5% and 61% ± 7% for standard-risk patients (n = 48; 19% underwent HSCT), and 89% ± 13% and 67% ± 19% for high-risk patients (n = 9; 89% underwent HSCT), respectively. Five-year cumulative incidence (± SD) of CNS relapse was 15% ± 6%. Outcomes (± SDs) were similar to those in COG AALL0031, which used the same chemotherapy with continuous imatinib: 5-year OS of 81% ± 6% versus 86% ± 5% ( P = .63) and 5-year disease-free survival of 68% ± 7% versus 60% ± 7% ( P = 0.31) for AALL0031 versus AALL0622, respectively. IKZF1 deletions, present in 56% of tested patients, were associated with significantly inferior OS and event-free survival overall and in standard-risk patients. Conclusion Dasatinib was well tolerated with chemotherapy and provided outcomes similar to those with imatinib in COG AALL0031, where all patients received cranial irradiation. Our results support limiting HSCT to slow responders and suggest a potential role for transplantation in rapid responders with IKZF1 deletions.

scholarly journals Cellular Expression of Antiapoptotic BCL-2 Oncoprotein in Newly Diagnosed Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children's Cancer Group Study

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 3769-3777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih M. Uckun ◽  
Zhiwen Yang ◽  
Harland Sather ◽  
Peter Steinherz ◽  
James Nachman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Childhood All ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cellular Expression

Abstract We found a marked variation in BCL-2 oncoprotein expression levels of primary leukemic cells from 338 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). None of the high-risk features predictive of poor treatment outcome in childhood ALL, such as older age, high white blood cell (WBC) count, organomegaly, T-lineage immunophenotype, ability of leukemic cells to cause overt leukemia in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, presence of MLL-AF4, and BCR-ABL fusion transcripts were associated with high levels of BCL-2 expression. Overall, high BCL-2 levels were not associated with slow early response, failure to achieve complete remission, or poor event-free survival. High BCL-2 levels in primary leukemic cells predicted slow early response only in T-lineage ALL patients, which comprised approximately 15% of the total patient population. Even for this small subset of patients, the level of BCL-2 expression did not have a significant impact on the short-term event-free survival.

scholarly journals Improved Early Event-Free Survival With Imatinib in Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children's Oncology Group Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (31) ◽  
pp. 5175-5181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirk R. Schultz ◽  
W. Paul Bowman ◽  
Alexander Aledo ◽  
William B. Slayton ◽  
Harland Sather ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Intensive Chemotherapy ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improved Outcome ◽  
Philadelphia Chromosome Positive

Purpose Imatinib mesylate is a targeted agent that may be used against Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), one of the highest risk pediatric ALL groups. Patients and Methods We evaluated whether imatinib (340 mg/m2/d) with an intensive chemotherapy regimen improved outcome in children ages 1 to 21 years with Ph+ ALL (N = 92) and compared toxicities to Ph− ALL patients (N = 65) given the same chemotherapy without imatinib. Exposure to imatinib was increased progressively in five patient cohorts that received imatinib from 42 (cohort 1; n = 7) to 280 continuous days (cohort 5; n = 50) before maintenance therapy. Patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) –identical sibling donors underwent blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) with imatinib given for 6 months following BMT. Results Continuous imatinib exposure improved outcome in cohort 5 patients with a 3-year event-free survival (EFS) of 80% ± 11% (95% CI, 64% to 90%), more than twice historical controls (35% ± 4%; P < .0001). Three-year EFS was similar for patients in cohort 5 treated with chemotherapy plus imatinib (88% ± 11%; 95% CI, 66% to 96%) or sibling donor BMT (57% ± 22%; 95% CI, 30.4% to 76.1%). There were no significant toxicities associated with adding imatinib to intensive chemotherapy. The higher imatinib dosing in cohort 5 appears to improve survival by having an impact on the outcome of children with a higher burden of minimal residual disease after induction. Conclusion Imatinib plus intensive chemotherapy improved 3-year EFS in children and adolescents with Ph+ ALL, with no appreciable increase in toxicity. BMT plus imatinib offered no advantage over BMT alone. Additional follow-up is required to determine the impact of this treatment on long-term EFS and determine whether chemotherapy plus imatinib can replace BMT.

Prognostic Significance of Blasts in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Without Pleiocytosis or a Traumatic Lumbar Puncture in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Experience of the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 2332-2336 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Maroeska W.M. te Loo ◽  
Willem A. Kamps ◽  
Anna van der Does-van den Berg ◽  
Elisabeth R. van Wering ◽  
Siebold S.N. de Graaf
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lumbar Puncture ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose To determine the significance of blasts in the CSF without pleiocytosis and a traumatic lumbar puncture in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients and Methods We retrospectively studied a cohort of 526 patients treated in accordance with the virtually identical Dutch protocols ALL-7 and ALL-8. Patients were classified into five groups: CNS1, no blasts in the CSF cytospin; CNS2, blasts present in the cytospin, but leukocytes less than 5/μL; CNS3, blasts present and leukocytes more than 5/μL. Patients with a traumatic lumbar puncture (TLP; > 10 erythrocytes/mL) were classified as TLP+ (blasts present in the cytospin) or TLP− (no blasts). Results Median duration of follow-up was 13.2 years (range, 6.9 to 15.5 years). Event-free survival (EFS) was 72.6% (SE, 2.5%) for CNS1 patients (n = 304), 70.3% (SE, 4.7%) for CNS2 patients (n = 111), and 66.7% (SE, 19%) for CNS3 patients (n = 10; no significant difference in EFS between the groups). EFS was 58% (SE, 7.6%) for TLP+ patients (n = 62) and 82% (SE, 5.2%) for TLP− patients (n = 39; P < .01). Cox regression analysis identified TLP+ status as an independent prognostic factor (risk ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4 to 8.8; P = .007). Cumulative incidence of CNS relapses was 0.05 and 0.07 in CNS1 and CNS2 patients, respectively (not statistically significant). Conclusion In our experience, the presence of a low number of blasts in the CSF without pleiocytosis has no prognostic significance. In contrast, a traumatic lumbar puncture with blasts in the CSF specimen is associated with an inferior outcome.

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