title: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma treated with a leukemia-like therapy: report of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) LNH-92 protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a well defined entity with a rather poor prognosis. Different approaches have been adopted in the treatment of ALCL in various cooperative trials, including short high-dose intensive therapy and leukemia-like protocols. In the early 1990s, the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) initiated a multicenter trial for the treatment of ALCL based on a modified LSA2-L2 protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four consecutive eligible children with newly diagnosed ALCL were enrolled in the AIEOP LNH-92 protocol. Treatment was comprised of an induction of remission phase, followed by consolidation and maintenance for a total duration of 24 months, independently of disease stage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of 34 patients (88%) achieved complete disease remission and 8 patients experienced disease recurrence. With a median follow-up of 8.4 years, the probabilities of survival and event-free survival were 85% (range, 79-91%) and 65% (range, 57-73%), respectively. Therapy was well tolerated and hematologic toxicity was the most frequent toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The leukemia-like protocol AIEOP LNH-92 was found to be an effective treatment for childhood ALCL. Its long duration may be beneficial to specific patient subgroups, but optimal treatment duration in ALCL remains to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Clinica di Oncoematologia Pediatrica, Azienda Ospedaliera-Università di Padova, Padova, Italy. angelo-rosolen@unipd.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosolen
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pillon
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garaventa
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burnelli
authors.forename: Emanuele S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: d'Amore
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comis
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesaro
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tettoni
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moleti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tamaro
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Visintin
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanesco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007938:Leukemia / Q000628:therapy; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate; D003630:Daunorubicin