BACKGROUND: The antifolate drug methotrexate is a mainstay of treatment for children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). There have been concerns regarding the impact of folate fortification on the efficacy of methotrexate therapy and hence treatment outcomes of ALL. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether folate fortification has been associated with a higher incidence of adverse outcomes in children with ALL. METHODS: In a retrospective, population-based study, using data from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), Ontario, Canada, and the WHO, we examined yearly and population-adjusted mortality rates in Canada, the US, and several European countries. RESULTS: Our analysis demonstrates that there has been a decreasing trend in ALL mortality numbers and rates between 1999 and 2005 in the US and Canada, in a similar degree to those in European countries where folate fortification is not implemented. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that folate fortification does not appear to have caused an increase in therapeutic failures in children with ALL.
BACKGROUND: The antifolate drug methotrexate is a mainstay of treatment for children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). There have been concerns regarding the impact of folate fortification on the efficacy of methotrexate therapy and hence treatment outcomes of ALL. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether folate fortification has been associated with a higher incidence of adverse outcomes in children with ALL. METHODS: In a retrospective, population-based study, using data from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO), Ontario, Canada, and the WHO, we examined yearly and population-adjusted mortality rates in Canada, the US, and several European countries. RESULTS: Our analysis demonstrates that there has been a decreasing trend in ALL mortality numbers and rates between 1999 and 2005 in the US and Canada, in a similar degree to those in European countries where folate fortification is not implemented. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that folate fortification does not appear to have caused an increase in therapeutic failures in children with ALL.
Authors: Robert de Jonge; Jan Hendrik Hooijberg; Bertrand D van Zelst; Gerrit Jansen; Gerritz Jansen; Christina H van Zantwijk; Christine H van Zantwijk; Gertjan J L Kaspers; Gert Jan L Kaspers; Godefridus J Peters; Frits G J Peters; Yaddanapudi Ravindranath; Rob Pieters; Jan Lindemans Journal: Blood Date: 2005-03-29 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Mohammed Agha; Bruna DiMonte; Mark Greenberg; Corin Greenberg; Ronald Barr; John R McLaughlin Journal: Int J Cancer Date: 2006-06-01 Impact factor: 7.396
Authors: Stéphanie Dulucq; Geneviève St-Onge; Vincent Gagné; Marc Ansari; Daniel Sinnett; Damian Labuda; Albert Moghrabi; Maja Krajinovic Journal: Blood Date: 2007-12-20 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: Esther M Te Poele; Eveline S J M de Bont; H Marike Boezen; Tom Revesz; Jos P M Bökkerink; Auke Beishuizen; Ilse J M Nijhuis; Claudi S M Oude Nijhuis; Anjo J P Veerman; Willem A Kamps Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 2007-08-15 Impact factor: 9.162
Authors: Corinna Hahn-Ast; Axel Glasmacher; Sara Mückter; Andrea Schmitz; Anja Kraemer; Günter Marklein; Peter Brossart; Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother Date: 2010-01-27 Impact factor: 5.790