BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is poorer in adults than in children. Studies have indicated that young adults benefit from pediatric treatment, although no upper age limit has been defined. DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 749 patients aged 1-45 yr treated by the NOPHO ALL-2008 protocol. Minimal residual disease (MRD) on days 29 and 79, immunophenotype, white blood cell count (WBC), and cytogenetics were used to stratify patients to standard-, intermediate-, or high-risk treatment with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: Adults aged 18-45 had significantly lower WBCs at diagnosis compared with children aged 1-9 and 10-17 yr, but significantly more adults were stratified to high-risk chemotherapy (8%, 14%, 17%; P < 0.0001) or high-risk chemotherapy with transplantation (4%, 13%, 19%; P < 0.0001). This age-dependent skewing of risk grouping reflected more T-ALL (11%, 27%, 33%, P < 0.0001), poorer MRD response day 29 (MRD < 0.1%: 75%, 61%, 52%; P < 0.0001), and more MLL gene rearrangements (3%, 3%, 10%; P = 0.005) in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Even if identical diagnostics, treatment, and risk stratification are implemented, more adults will be stratified to high-risk therapy, which should be considered when comparing pediatric and adult outcomes.
BACKGROUND: The prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is poorer in adults than in children. Studies have indicated that young adults benefit from pediatric treatment, although no upper age limit has been defined. DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 749 patients aged 1-45 yr treated by the NOPHO ALL-2008 protocol. Minimal residual disease (MRD) on days 29 and 79, immunophenotype, white blood cell count (WBC), and cytogenetics were used to stratify patients to standard-, intermediate-, or high-risk treatment with or without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: Adults aged 18-45 had significantly lower WBCs at diagnosis compared with children aged 1-9 and 10-17 yr, but significantly more adults were stratified to high-risk chemotherapy (8%, 14%, 17%; P < 0.0001) or high-risk chemotherapy with transplantation (4%, 13%, 19%; P < 0.0001). This age-dependent skewing of risk grouping reflected more T-ALL (11%, 27%, 33%, P < 0.0001), poorer MRD response day 29 (MRD < 0.1%: 75%, 61%, 52%; P < 0.0001), and more MLL gene rearrangements (3%, 3%, 10%; P = 0.005) in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Even if identical diagnostics, treatment, and risk stratification are implemented, more adults will be stratified to high-risk therapy, which should be considered when comparing pediatric and adult outcomes.
Authors: A Karachunskiy; J Roumiantseva; S Lagoiko; C Bührer; G Tallen; O Aleinikova; O Bydanov; N Korepanova; L Bajdun; T Nasedkina; A von Stackelberg; G Novichkova; A Maschan; D Litvinov; N Myakova; N Ponomareva; K Kondratchik; L Fechina; O Streneva; N Judina; G Scharapova; A Shamardina; I Gerbek; A Shapochnik; A Rumjanzew; G Henze Journal: Leukemia Date: 2015-03-09 Impact factor: 11.528
Authors: Olga Sala Torra; Megan Othus; David W Williamson; Brent Wood; Ilan Kirsch; Harlan Robins; Lan Beppu; Margaret R O'Donnell; Stephen J Forman; Frederick R Appelbaum; Jerald P Radich Journal: Biol Blood Marrow Transplant Date: 2017-01-03 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: B O Wolthers; T L Frandsen; J Abrahamsson; B K Albertsen; L R Helt; M Heyman; Ó G Jónsson; L T Kõrgvee; B Lund; R A Raja; K K Rasmussen; M Taskinen; M Tulstrup; G E Vaitkevičienė; R Yadav; R Gupta; K Schmiegelow Journal: Leukemia Date: 2016-07-25 Impact factor: 11.528
Authors: Marie-Louise Hyre Arpe; Sascha Rørvig; Karin Kok; Christian Mølgaard; Thomas Leth Frandsen Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-04-17 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: N Toft; H Birgens; J Abrahamsson; L Griškevičius; H Hallböök; M Heyman; T W Klausen; Ó G Jónsson; K Palk; K Pruunsild; P Quist-Paulsen; G Vaitkeviciene; K Vettenranta; A Åsberg; T L Frandsen; H V Marquart; H O Madsen; U Norén-Nyström; K Schmiegelow Journal: Leukemia Date: 2017-08-18 Impact factor: 11.528
Authors: Ching-Hon Pui; Jun J Yang; Stephen P Hunger; Rob Pieters; Martin Schrappe; Andrea Biondi; Ajay Vora; André Baruchel; Lewis B Silverman; Kjeld Schmiegelow; Gabriele Escherich; Keizo Horibe; Yves C M Benoit; Shai Izraeli; Allen Eng Juh Yeoh; Der-Cherng Liang; James R Downing; William E Evans; Mary V Relling; Charles G Mullighan Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2015-08-24 Impact factor: 44.544