Li Zhang1, Xiaofan Zhu, Xiaojuan Chen, Yumei Chen, Yao Zou. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, PR China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are very limited data reported about the role of cytarabine (Ara-C) in childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We review the clinical course and treatment outcome of APL and explore the role of standard-dose Ara-C for children. PROCEDURE: Between January 1999 and December 2008, 36 children (<14 y) with newly diagnosed APL were included. RESULTS: The overall complete remission rate was 97.2% (35/36). Two patients were lost to follow-up after induction. Two groups of patients were identified according to different consolidation chemotherapy regimens. Seventeen patients were given polychemotherapy in combination with standard-dose Ara-C (group I), 16 patients were given daunorubicin alone (group II). Although the 5-year estimate of disease-free survival between groups I and II had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.614), there was a 12% higher disease-free survival rate for group I. CONCLUSION: Standard-dose Ara-C might play some role in the consolidation treatment of children suffering from APL.
BACKGROUND: There are very limited data reported about the role of cytarabine (Ara-C) in childhood acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We review the clinical course and treatment outcome of APL and explore the role of standard-dose Ara-C for children. PROCEDURE: Between January 1999 and December 2008, 36 children (<14 y) with newly diagnosed APL were included. RESULTS: The overall complete remission rate was 97.2% (35/36). Two patients were lost to follow-up after induction. Two groups of patients were identified according to different consolidation chemotherapy regimens. Seventeen patients were given polychemotherapy in combination with standard-dose Ara-C (group I), 16 patients were given daunorubicin alone (group II). Although the 5-year estimate of disease-free survival between groups I and II had no statistically significant difference (P = 0.614), there was a 12% higher disease-free survival rate for group I. CONCLUSION: Standard-dose Ara-C might play some role in the consolidation treatment of children suffering from APL.