title: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in India: an analysis of prognostic factors using a single treatment regimen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the past, treatment results in Indian children with ALL have been poor, primarily due to inadequate chemotherapy and supportive care, but perhaps reflecting differences from Western countries in the pattern of subtypes. In an attempt to improve survival, we have used a more intensive treatment protocol, MCP841, and examined prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred thirty previously untreated patients < 25 years of age with ALL were entered on study at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Treatment consisted of three successive induction cycles, consolidation and six maintenance cycles. CNS prophylactic therapy consisted of cranial irradiation (2000 cGy) for patients above two years and high-dose cytarabine for patients less than two years. The total treatment duration was two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients had hepatosplenomegaly (80%) and or lymphadenopathy (79%) and 21% were of T-cell immunophenotype, but very few (1.3%) had CNS disease. CR was achieved in 484 (91.3%) patients and 145 (29.9%) patients relapsed. There were 36 induction deaths and 49 remission deaths, but the toxic death rate was significantly lower after 1990. In patients treated since 1990, three risk groups could be discerned: 1) WBC < 60,000 per mm3 and no lymphadenopathy (77% event-free survival (EFS) at five years): 2) WBC < 60,000 per mm3 with lymphadenopathy (53% EFS) or, WBC > 60,000 per mm3 and Hb 6 gm/dl or above (48% EFS): and 3) WBC > 60,000 per mm3 and Hb below 6 gm dl (16% EFS). In a multivariate model, only WBC, Hb and lymphadenopathy were significantly associated with EFS (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CR and EFS rates achieved represent a significant improvement over previous results at this institution. Bulky extramedullary disease was an important risk factor in this series, but age and WBC alone inadequately defined risk groups, suggesting that prognostic factors may vary in different world regions.
authors: Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Advani
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pai
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Venzon
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Adde
authors: P K
authors: PK
authors: Kurkure
authors: C N
authors: CN
authors: Nair
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Sirohi
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Banavali
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Hawaldar
authors: B B
authors: BB
authors: Kolhatkar
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Vats
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Magrath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase