A Phase I Study of Clofarabine With Multiagent Chemotherapy in Childhood High Risk Relapse of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (VANDEVOL Study of the French SFCE Acute Leukemia Committee)

International audienceBACKGROUND: Current outcome of very early relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children remains poor. As a single agent, clofarabine provided a response rate of 26% in childhood ALL second relapse and, in combination with cyclophosphamide and etoposide, a 44% complete remission and complete remission without platelet recovery (CR+CRp) rate. Further multi-drug combinations need to be investigated. We used the VANDA regimen as a template, cytarabine being replaced by clofarabine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A phase I study combining escalating doses of clofarabine (25% increments from 20 to 40 mg/m(2) /d) with fixed doses of mitoxantrone, etoposide, asparaginase, and dexamethasone was undertaken in children presenting with very early or second or post-transplant ALL relapse. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled, 19 were evaluable. Four patients had previously been allografted. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) appeared at dose level 3 (32 mg/m(2) ), one out of six patients experienced a liver DLT. At dose level 4 (40 mg/m(2) ), four DLT occurred (two fungal infection and two liver DLT). The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of clofarabine was thus determined to be 32 mg/m(2) . There was no toxic death. Eleven (57.9%) patients achieved a CR. Six patients proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. CONCLUSION: Clofarabine MTD was 32 mg/m(2) /d in this combination which appeared feasible and effective in this population. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, In

Therapeutic approach and outcome of children with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia at first relapse in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors: An SFCE retrospective study

International audienceBackground Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the profile of pediatric relapse of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) has changed. However, the management of pediatric Ph+ ALL relapses is not currently standardized. Procedure We retrospectively analyzed the therapeutic strategies and outcomes of pediatric Ph+ ALL patients in first relapse who were initially treated with a TKI-containing regimen in one of the French pediatric hematology centers from 2004 to 2019. Results Twenty-seven children experienced a Ph+ ALL relapse: 24 (89%) had an overt relapse and three a molecular relapse. Eight involved the central nervous system. A second complete remission (CR2) was obtained for 26 patients (96%). Induction consisted of nonintensive chemotherapy for 13 patients (48%) and intensive chemotherapy for 14 (52%). Thirteen patients (48%) received consolidation. Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) was performed for 21 patients (78%). The TKI was changed for 23 patients (88%), mainly with dasatinib (n = 15). T315I was the most common mutation at relapse (4/7). The 4-year event-free survival and survival rates were 60.9% and 76.1%, respectively. Survival was positively associated with alloHSCT in CR2. Conclusion We show that pediatric first-relapse Ph+ ALL reinduces well with a second course of TKI exposure, despite the use of different therapeutic approaches. The main prognostic factor for survival was alloHSCT in CR2. Because of the small size of the cohort, we could not draw any conclusions about the respective impact of TKIs, but the predominance of the T315I mutation should encourage careful consideration of the TKI choice

Improved risk-stratification and outcome prediction in children with average risk precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia using a 19-microRNA signature

Risk stratification has led to a tremendous improvement of the 5-year overall survival rates in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The average risk group (AR) where nor favorable nor unfavorable factors are found is the largest patient group, accounting for more than 85% of patients. Despite the good overall survival rate the total number of relapses observed in this AR group is considerable. Genome-wide microRNA (miRNA) profiling on diagnostic bone marrow samples of patients who experienced relapse and patients in continuous complete remission (CCR) (follow-up>6 years) allowed us to identify a 19-microRNA prognostic signature, predictive for relapse within this group. The signature holds an accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of respectively 77 %, 69 % and 84 %. Currently, the signature is evaluated in an independent validation cohort. Notably, many of the miRNAs present in this signature are known oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Absence of any other prognostic parameter within this patient group makes the identified signature a unique and powerful tool for further risk-stratification. The method and signature are suitable for laboratory routine testing, and, will be further evaluated in a prospective study

Improved risk stratification and outcome prediction in children with average risk 1 precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia using a 19-microRNA signature

Background: Risk stratification has led to a tremendous improvement of the 5-year overall survival rates in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The average risk group 1 (AR1), consisting of all non-very low risk and non-very high risk B-cell lineage ALL patients, is the largest patient group accounting for 57% in our experience. Despite the good overall survival, the total number of relapses observed in this AR1 group is considerable. Aim: In this study, we aimed at identifying a marker able to predict relapse, at the stage of diagnosis. To this end, we focused on the recently discovered microRNAs of which their expression has been reported to hold prognostic power in other cancer types. Methods: A total of 693 microRNAs were profiled using automated high-throughput quantitative stem-loop RT-PCR in a cohort of diagnostic bone marrow samples from AR1 pediatric precursor B-cell ALL patients in continuous complete remission (follow-up>6 years) and patients who experienced relapse. All patients were treated according to the EORTC-CLG protocol 58951 (December 1998-August 2008). The ethical committee approved the study and informed consent was obtained from the patients and/or their parents. Statistics were performed using SPSS17 and R (Bioconductor). Results: Logistic regression analysis and Prediction Analysis of Microarray allowed us to identify a 19-microRNA signature, prognostic for relapse within this group. The signature has an accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 77 %, 69 % and 84 %, respectively. Currently, the signature is evaluated in an independent validation cohort. Notably, several of the microRNAs present in this signature are known oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Multivariate analysis, including the microRNA signature, white blood cell count and age, shows that the 19-microRNA signature is an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The identified 19-microRNA signature is a unique and powerful tool for further risk-stratification. The method and signature are suitable for routine laboratory testing and will be further evaluated in a prospective study

Prolonged versus standard native E-coli asparaginase therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of the EORTC-CLG randomized phase III trial 58951

Asparaginase is an essential component of combination chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The value of asparaginase was further addressed in a group of non-very high-risk patients by comparing prolonged (long-asparaginase) versus standard (short-asparaginase) native E. coli asparaginase treatment in a randomized part of the phase III 58951 trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Children's Leukemia Group. The main endpoint was disease-free survival. Overall, 1,552 patients were randomly assigned to long-asparaginase (775 patients) or short-asparaginase (777 patients). Patients with grade ≥2 allergy to native E. coli asparaginase were switched to equivalent doses of Erwinia or pegylated E. coli asparaginase. The 8-year disease-free survival rate (±standard error) was 87.0±1.3% in the long-asparaginase group and 84.4±1.4% in the short-asparaginase group (hazard ratio: 0.87; P=0.33) and the 8-year overall survival rate was 92.6±1.0% and 91.3±1.2% respectively (hazard ratio: 0.89; P=0.53). An exploratory analysis suggested that the impact of long-asparaginase was beneficial in the National Cancer Institute standard-risk group with regards to disease-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.70; P=0.057), but far less so with regards to overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.89). The incidences of grade 3-4 infection during consolidation (25.2% versus 14.4%) and late intensification (22.6% versus 15.9%) and the incidence of grade 2-4 allergy were higher in the long-asparaginase arm (30% versus 21%). Prolonged native E. coli asparaginase therapy in consolidation and late intensification for our non-very high-risk patients did not improve overall outcome but led to an increase in infections and allergy. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00003728.status: publishe

Prolonged versus standard native E-coli asparaginase therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of the EORTC-CLG randomized phase III trial 58951

Asparaginase is an essential component of combination chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The value of asparaginase was further addressed in a group of non-very high-risk patients by comparing prolonged (long-asparaginase) versus standard (short-asparaginase) native E. coli asparaginase treatment in a randomized part of the phase III 58951 trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Children’s Leukemia Group. The main endpoint was disease-free survival. Overall, 1,552 patients were randomly assigned to long-asparaginase (775 patients) or short-asparaginase (777 patients). Patients with grade ≥2 allergy to native E. coli asparaginase were switched to equivalent doses of Erwinia or pegylated E. coli asparaginase. The 8-year disease-free survival rate (±standard error) was 87.0±1.3% in the long-asparaginase group and 84.4±1.4% in the short-asparaginase group (hazard ratio: 0.87; P=0.33) and the 8-year overall survival rate was 92.6±1.0% and 91.3±1.2% respectively (hazard ratio: 0.89; P=0.53). An exploratory analysis suggested that the impact of long-asparaginase was beneficial in the National Cancer Institute standard-risk group with regards to disease-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.70; P=0.057), but far less so with regards to overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.89). The incidences of grade 3-4 infection during consolidation (25.2% versus 14.4%) and late intensification (22.6% versus 15.9%) and the incidence of grade 2-4 allergy were higher in the long-asparaginase arm (30% versus 21%). Prolonged native E. coli asparaginase therapy in consolidation and late intensification for our non-very high-risk patients did not improve overall outcome but led to an increase in infections and allergy.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Long-term outcome evaluation of medium/high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia children treated with or without cranial radiotherapy in the EORTC 58832 randomized study.

We investigated the long-term outcome, the incidence of second neoplasms (SN) and the rate of late adverse effects (LAE) in children with central nervous system (CNS) negative medium/high-risk de novo acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), in first complete remission (CR1) at end of late intensification, randomized to receive no cranial radiotherapy (No CRT, n = 92) versus CRT (standard arm, n = 84) in the non-inferiority EORTC 58832 study (1983-1989). Median follow-up was 20 years (range 4-32 years). The 25-year disease-free survival rate (+/-SE) was 67.4 +/- 4.9% without CRT and 70.2 +/- 5.0% with CRT. The 25-year incidence of isolated (6.5 +/- 2.6% vs. 4.8 +/- 2.3%) and any CNS relapse {8.7 +/- 2.9% vs. 11.9 +/- 3.5%; hazard ratio (HR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-1.79]; test of non-inferiority: P = 0.01} was not increased without CRT. The 25-year SN incidence in CR1 was 7.9 +/- 4.6% vs. 11.0 +/- 4.2%. The 25-year event-free and overall survival rates were quite similar in both arms [59.5 +/- 6.3% vs. 60.5 +/- 5.9%, HR 0.94 (95% CI 0.57-1.52), and 78.1 +/- 4.3% vs. 78.5 +/- 4.5%, HR 1.00 (95% CI 0.53-1.88)]. Omission of CRT was associated with dramatic decrease in CNS and endocrine LAE rates. In conclusion, our data suggest that, with proper systemic and intrathecal CNS prophylaxis, CRT could totally be omitted in CR1 without jeopardizing survival, while decreasing LAE in childhood ALL

Long-term outcome evaluation of medium/high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia children treated with or without cranial radiotherapy in the EORTC 58832 randomized study

We investigated the long-term outcome, the incidence of second neoplasms (SN) and the rate of late adverse effects (LAE) in children with central nervous system (CNS) negative medium/high-risk de novo acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), in first complete remission (CR1) at end of late intensification, randomized to receive no cranial radiotherapy (No CRT, n = 92) versus CRT (standard arm, n = 84) in the non-inferiority EORTC 58832 study (1983-1989). Median follow-up was 20 years (range 4-32 years). The 25-year disease-free survival rate (±SE) was 67·4 ± 4·9% without CRT and 70·2 ± 5·0% with CRT. The 25-year incidence of isolated (6·5 ± 2·6% vs. 4·8 ± 2·3%) and any CNS relapse {8·7 ± 2·9% vs. 11·9 ± 3·5%; hazard ratio (HR) 0·71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·28-1·79]; test of non-inferiority: P = 0·01} was not increased without CRT. The 25-year SN incidence in CR1 was 7·9 ± 4·6% vs. 11·0 ± 4·2%. The 25-year event-free and overall survival rates were quite similar in both arms [59·5 ± 6·3% vs. 60·5 ± 5·9%, HR 0·94 (95% CI 0·57-1·52), and 78·1 ± 4·3% vs. 78·5 ± 4·5%, HR 1·00 (95% CI 0·53-1·88)]. Omission of CRT was associated with dramatic decrease in CNS and endocrine LAE rates. In conclusion, our data suggest that, with proper systemic and intrathecal CNS prophylaxis, CRT could totally be omitted in CR1 without jeopardizing survival, while decreasing LAE in childhood ALL.status: publishe