title: Use of intrathecal chemoprophylaxis in children after SCT and the risk of central nervous system relapse.
abstract: Conflicting conclusions can be drawn from the available data concerning antileukemic efficacy and risks of intrathecal (i.t.) chemoprophylaxis to children after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT). To address this, we enrolled six transplantation centers with similar treatment and patient material. Of the 397 children included, 136 patients had received post-HSCT i.t. treatment (i.t. group) and 261 had not (non-i.t. group). The two groups were, apart from the i.t. therapy given or not given, at equal risk of post-HSCT central nervous system (CNS) relapse, which was the primary endpoint studied. Isolated CNS relapses were observed in 2 (1.5%) patients from the i.t. group and 2 (1%) from the non-i.t. group. Combined relapses, including CNS, involved 4 (3%) patients from the i.t. group and 6 (2%) from the non-i.t. group. Overall survival and the occurrence of neurological side effects did not differ significantly between the groups. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of isolated or mixed CNS relapses between the two groups, suggesting little or no benefit from i.t. therapy post-HSCT in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vettenranta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vettenranta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bierings
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Békássy
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: B-M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Frost
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arvidson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spendilow
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winiarski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome