BACKGROUND: Extramedullary infiltration (EMI) is an occasional clinical symptom in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), but there is considerable controversy regarding the prognostic significance of EMI in AML. PROCEDURE: We evaluated the frequency and prognostic significance of EMI at diagnosis of AML in children. RESULTS: Of 240 cases of de novo AML excluding children with Down syndrome and acute promyelocytic leukemia, 56 (23.3%) showed EMI at diagnosis. Patients with EMI had a higher initial WBC count and a higher proportion of M4/M5 morphological variants. The complete remission rate following induction chemotherapy was lower in patients with EMI. However, the overall survival and event-free survival did not differ between patients with and without EMI. A detailed analysis showed that patients with EMI with a WBC count at diagnosis of over 100 x 10(9)/L or infiltration into the central nervous system are likely to have a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: CNS leukemia and EMI together with a WBC count of >100 x 10(9)/L at diagnosis of AML are high risk factors for relapse, and alternative treatment approaches for patients with these characteristics should be explored.
BACKGROUND: Extramedullary infiltration (EMI) is an occasional clinical symptom in childhood acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), but there is considerable controversy regarding the prognostic significance of EMI in AML. PROCEDURE: We evaluated the frequency and prognostic significance of EMI at diagnosis of AML in children. RESULTS: Of 240 cases of de novo AML excluding children with Down syndrome and acute promyelocytic leukemia, 56 (23.3%) showed EMI at diagnosis. Patients with EMI had a higher initial WBC count and a higher proportion of M4/M5 morphological variants. The complete remission rate following induction chemotherapy was lower in patients with EMI. However, the overall survival and event-free survival did not differ between patients with and without EMI. A detailed analysis showed that patients with EMI with a WBC count at diagnosis of over 100 x 10(9)/L or infiltration into the central nervous system are likely to have a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: CNS leukemia and EMI together with a WBC count of >100 x 10(9)/L at diagnosis of AML are high risk factors for relapse, and alternative treatment approaches for patients with these characteristics should be explored.
Authors: Donna L Johnston; Todd A Alonzo; Robert B Gerbing; Beverly J Lange; William G Woods Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2011-05-25 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Donna L Johnston; Todd A Alonzo; Robert B Gerbing; Beverly J Lange; William G Woods Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2010-09 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Chezi Ganzel; Judith Manola; Dan Douer; Jacob M Rowe; Hugo F Fernandez; Elisabeth M Paietta; Mark R Litzow; Ju-Whei Lee; Selina M Luger; Hillard M Lazarus; Larry D Cripe; Peter H Wiernik; Martin S Tallman Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2016-10-10 Impact factor: 44.544