title: Management of adult and paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Asia: resource-stratified guidelines from the Asian Oncology Summit 2013.
abstract: Survival for adults and children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has risen substantially in recent years because use of improved risk-directed treatments and supportive care has widened. In nearly all developed countries, multidisciplinary panels of leukaemia experts have formulated clinical practice guidelines in which standard treatment approaches are recommended on the basis of current evidence. However, those guidelines do not take into account resource limitations in low-income countries, including financial and technical challenges. In Asia, huge disparities in economy and infrastructure exist between countries, and even among different regions in some large countries. At a consensus session held as part of the 2013 Asian Oncology Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, a panel of experts summarised recommendations for management of adult and paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Strategies were developed for Asian countries on the basis of available financial, skill, and logistical resources and were stratified in a four-tier system according to the resources available in a particular country or region (basic, limited, enhanced, and maximum).
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, National University Hospital, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Allen E J
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Chi-Kong
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Ching-Hon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult