title: Outcome of treatment after first relapse in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia initially treated by the LALA-94 trial.
abstract: Fifty-four percent of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who entered the LALA-94 trial experienced a first relapse. We examined the outcome of these 421 adult patients. One hundred and eighty-seven patients (44%) achieved a second complete remission (CR). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 5.2 months with a 5-year DFS at 12%. Factors predicting a better outcome after relapse were any transplant performed in second CR (P<0.0001), a first CR duration >1 year (P=0.04) and platelet level >100 x 10(9)/l at relapse (P=0.04). Risk groups defined at diagnosis and treatment received in first CR did not influence the outcome after relapse. The best results were obtained in a subset of patients who were eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Geno-identical allogeneic SCT was performed in 55 patients, and 3 patients received donor lymphocyte infusions. Forty-four transplantations were performed from an unrelated donor (of which four were cord blood). We conclude that most adult patients with recurring ALL could not be rescued using current available therapies, although allogeneic SCT remains the best therapeutic option.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Nord, Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tavernier
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boiron
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bradstock
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vey
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovacsovics
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delannoy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fegueux
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fenaux
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stamatoullas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tournilhac
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buzyn
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Reman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charrin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boucheix
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gabert
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lhéritier
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vernant
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dombret
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012307:Risk Factors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome