title: Early response to induction is predictive of survival in childhood Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of the Medical Research Council ALL 97 trial.
abstract: We report on the outcome of children with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (Ph+ ALL) treated on the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) trial for childhood ALL, MRC ALL 97, between January 1997 and June 2002. Forty-two (2.3%) patients were Ph+. Nineteen (45%) had <25% blasts in bone marrow (BM) within the first 2 weeks of treatment and were defined as a good response group (GRG), the others as a poor response group (PRG). Thirty-six (86%) achieved first complete remission (CR1) at the end of induction, of which 28 underwent BM transplantation (BMT). The median follow-up was 42 months (range, 21-84). The 3-year event-free survival (EFS; 52%, 95% CI, 36-66%) was a considerable improvement on the previous MRC UKALL XI trial (27%). EFS for the GRG and PRG were 68% (43-84%) and 39% (18-59%), respectively (P = 0.03); presenting white cell count <50 x 10(9)/l (P = 0.02) was predictive for overall survival. Changes in the MRC ALL97 trial within the study period resulted in some Ph+ ALL receiving daunorubicin and either prednisolone or dexamethasone during induction. Though the use of daunorubicin during induction was not a prospective study question, EFS was significantly better for those whose induction included this drug (P = 0.02). Steroid randomization was not stratified for Ph+ ALL patients and was not predictive for EFS. BMT in CR1 appeared to reduce the risk of a subsequent BM relapse. These results show significant improvement on previous MRC trials; future therapeutic strategies should include early intensive therapy and BMT in CR1.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research UK Children's Cancer Group, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anindita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bradburn
authors.forename: Anthony V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Moorman
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burrett
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Love
authors.forename: Sally E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kinsey
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vora
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eden
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lilleyman
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hann
authors.forename: Vaskar
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D011239:Prednisolone; D003630:Daunorubicin