title: Modified LSA2-L2 treatment in 53 children with E-rosette-positive T-cell leukemia: results and prognostic factors (a Pediatric Oncology Group Study).
abstract: In an attempt to improve the poor outlook for children with T-cell leukemia (T-ALL), the Southwest Oncology Group, Pediatric Division, used a modified LSA2-L2 multidrug regimen to treat 53 patients with E-rosette-positive T-ALL. This regimen was chosen because of its demonstrated efficacy in T-cell (mediastinal) non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Complete remission (CR) rate was 88%. Range of follow-up for those patients remaining in CR is 24-49 mo (median 39 mo). Life table analysis estimates that 40% (SE 8.3%) of all patients who started induction therapy will remain failure-free at 3 yr. For patients achieving CR, 46% (SE 9%) are projected to remain in both marrow and extramedullary CR at 3 yr. Median failure-free duration was 13 mo, but only 1 patient has relapsed beyond 16 mo. Twenty-nine percent of initial relapses were isolated CNS relapses. The following presenting factors did not relate significantly to outcome: hemoglobin, platelet count, uric acid, race, and mediastinal mass. Age greater than 10 yr was a poor prognosis indicator only in the less than 50,000/microliter WBC group. Sex was not a significant factor after adjusting for WBC. WBC was the most important prognostic factor: 19% (SE 8%) of patients with WBC greater than 50,000/microliter are projected to remain failure-free at 3 yr as compared to 67% (SE 11%) of patients with WBC less than 50,000/microliter. Although the overall results are better than those previously reported for pediatric patients with T-ALL, the long-term failure-free rate remains low for patients presenting with greater than 50,000/microliter WBC.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012397:Rosette Formation; D013601:T-Lymphocytes; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D000493:Allopurinol; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001215:Asparaginase; D013866:Thioguanine; D002330:Carmustine; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate; D003630:Daunorubicin