title: Improved outcome in South African children of mixed ethnicity treated for all.
abstract: A historical cohort study with an analytical component was conducted to determine whether risk-appropriate chemotherapy can improve survival in children of mixed ethnicity with ALL. Eighty-one coloured children treated for ALL in South Africa were divided into 2 groups: group A (n = 39), treated prior to 1992, and group B (n = 42), treated after 1992. A comparison was made of survival, treatment complications, and supportive measures. The two groups were comparable. The mean nadirs of the white cell count (p < .01), platelet count (p = .01), and hemoglobin value (p < .01) were significantly lower in group B. The survival rate of 37% in group A improved to 66% in group B (p = .025). The results show that a risk-adapted regimen increased survival in children of mixed ethnicity in the Western Cape, despite increased hematological toxicity and episodes of febrile neutropenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Children's Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa. pcfp@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dippenaar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wessels
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hesseling
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009503:Neutropenia; D010976:Platelet Count; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins