title: Benefits of the intermittent use of 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate in maintenance treatment for low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: randomized trial from the Brazilian Childhood Cooperative Group--protocol ALL-99.
abstract: PURPOSE To describe event-free survival (EFS) and toxicities in children with low-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) assigned to receive either continuous 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and weekly methotrexate (MTX) or intermittent 6-MP with intermediate-dose MTX, as maintenance treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between October 1, 2000, and December 31, 2007, 635 patients with low-risk ALL were enrolled onto Brazilian Childhood Cooperative Group for ALL Treatment (GBTLI) ALL-99 protocol. Eligible children (n = 544) were randomly allocated to receive either continuous 6-MP/MTX (group 1, n = 272) or intermittent 6-MP (100 mg/m(2)/d for 10 days, with 11 days resting) and MTX (200 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks; group 2, n = 272). RESULTS The 5-year overall survival (OS) and EFS were 92.5% +/- 1.5% SE and 83.6% +/- 2.1% SE, respectively. According to maintenance regimen, the OS was 91.4% +/- 2.2% SE (group 1) and 93.6% +/- 2.1% SE (group 2; P = .28) and EFS 80.9% +/- 3.2% SE (group 1) and 86.5% +/- 2.8% SE (group 2; P = .089). Remarkably, the intermittent regimen led to significantly higher EFS among boys (85.7% v 74.9% SE; P = .027), while no difference was seen for girls (87.0% v 88.8% SE; P = .78). Toxic episodes were recorded in 226 and 237 children, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 toxic events for groups 1 and 2 were, respectively, 273 and 166 for hepatic dysfunction (P = .002), and 772 and 636 for hematologic episodes (P = .005). Deaths on maintenance were: seven (group 1) and one (group 2). CONCLUSION The intermittent use of 6-MP and MTX in maintenance is a less toxic regimen, with a trend toward better long-term EFS. Boys treated with the intermittent schedule had significantly better EFS.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Rua Vital Brasil, 100 Cx Postal: 6141, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil. silviarb@fcm.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Silvia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brandalise
authors.forename: Vitória R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: Simone S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.forename: Eduardo I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otubo
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yunes
authors.forename: Waldir V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Eny G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Lilian M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cristofani
authors.forename: Marcelo S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dobbin
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pombo-de-Oliveira
authors.forename: Luiz F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Katharina N T
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Melnikoff
authors.forename: Algemir L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.forename: Luiz G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Tone
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Scrideli
authors.forename: Vera L L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Marcos B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Viana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008727:Methotrexate