Shortened intensified multi-agent chemotherapy and non-cross resistant maintenance therapy for advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: Report from the Children's Oncology Group

Minnie Abromowitch, Richard Sposto, Sherrie Perkins, David Zwick, Stuart Siegel, Jonathan Finlay, Mitchell S. Cairo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pediatric lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) has utilized treatment strategies similar to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with prolonged maintenance chemotherapy. We report the results of a pilot study to estimate the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of a 12-month aggressive multi-agent chemotherapy regimen in children and adolescents with advanced LL. Between July 1994 and June 1997, 85 eligible children and adolescents with advanced LL (Stage III/IV) were enrolled on this pilot study. Patients achieving a complete response following induction and consolidation received six cycles of maintenance chemotherapy for a total duration of 12 months. Grade III/IV toxicities included: hematological (80%), infections (20%), stomatitis and elevated transaminases, (29%). There were a total of 19 events, 13 relapses, two secondary acute myeloid leukaemia and four toxic deaths (5%). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) was 78 ± 4.5% and 85 ± 3.9%, respectively. Relapsed patients had a 5-year OS of only 33 ± 14%. Multivariate analysis failed to demonstrate age, gender, lactate dehydrogenase level, presence of marrow and/or central nervous system disease to have independent prognostic value. These results suggest that this experimental approach is safe and results in similar outcomes as more prolonged childhood ALL regimens.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)261-267
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume143
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2008

Keywords

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Intensified multiagent chemotherapy
  • Lymphoblastic lymphoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

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