Important factors improving outcome of young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Nomogram predictive models for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia based on real-world treatment outcomes

This study aimed to analyse the characteristics and treatment outcomes of adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and construct nomogram predictive models for prognosis prediction. Between January 2017 and June 2022, 462 adult patients with ALL were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients' ages ranged from 14 to 84 years. B-cell origin was observed in 82.7% of these patients, while 17.3% of the cases were of T-cell origin. The BCR/ABL1 fusion gene was detected in 32.9% of those with B-ALL. Complete remission was achieved in 83.7% of the patients after induction chemotherapy. The median disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients were 19.0 and 39.1 months, respectively. The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 29.5% and 41.8%, respectively. The BCR/ABL1 fusion gene had a significant adverse impact on DFS and OS when patients were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and chemotherapy; however, this effect was eliminated when patients underwent transplantation. Multivariate analysis identified that age ≥ 35 years, white blood cell count ≥ 30 × 109/L, platelet count < 100 × 109/L, failure to achieve complete remission after induction chemotherapy, positive measurable residual disease (MRD), and absence of transplantation were independent adverse prognostic factors for DFS and/or OS. Nomogram predictive models constructed by the rms package in R software based on these prognostic factors demonstrated precise predictive value. In conclusion, adult patients with ALL experience poor survival. TKIs in combination with transplantation can eliminate the adverse effects of BCR/ABL1 fusion genes on prognosis. Nomogram predictive models were accurate for prognostic prediction and will be useful in clinical practice.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a haematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature lymphoid cells. Over past decades, significant progress has been made in understanding the biology of ALL, resulting in remarkable improvements in its diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Since the advent of chemotherapy, ALL has been the platform to test for innovative approaches applicable to cancer in general. For example, the advent of omics medicine has led to a deeper understanding of the molecular and genetic features that underpin ALL. Innovations in genomic profiling techniques have identified specific genetic alterations and mutations that drive ALL, inspiring new therapies. Targeted agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies, have shown promising results in subgroups of patients while minimizing adverse effects. Furthermore, the development of chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy represents a breakthrough in ALL treatment, resulting in remarkable responses and potential long-term remissions. Advances are not limited to treatment modalities alone. Measurable residual disease monitoring and ex vivo drug response profiling screening have provided earlier detection of disease relapse and identification of exceptional responders, enabling clinicians to adjust treatment strategies for individual patients. Decades of supportive and prophylactic care have improved the management of treatment-related complications, enhancing the quality of life for patients with ALL.

Initial Experiences in Adolescents and Young Adults with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma Treated with the Modified BFM 2002 Protocol in a Resource-Constrained Setting

Prutha Jinwala T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is a clinically aggressive malignancy and life-threatening at diagnosis. Intensive chemotherapy protocols, inspired by the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) regimen, along with central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis, have achieved a 75 to 85% 5-year disease-free survival rate. However, in cases of marrow and CNS relapses, second-line chemotherapy is usually ineffective. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of the BFM 2002 protocol and to correlate clinical profiles and prognostic factors with survival outcomes in AYA T-ALL/LBL patients. We retrospectively analyzed data from T-ALL/LBL patients treated at the Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS), Indore, between 2018 and 2021. Twenty-one patients aged 15 to 29 years were studied for their clinical course and laboratory parameters over 36 months. Diagnosis and risk stratification were performed following the guidelines of the BFM 2002 protocol. All patients received treatment and monitoring according to this pediatric-inspired protocol. The median age of the patients was 17 years (range: 15-28 years). Eleven patients presented with mediastinal lymph node enlargement, 10% exhibited CNS involvement, and none had testicular involvement. Eleven patients had marrow blasts greater than 25%, indicative of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All 21 patients were treated according to the intensive modified BFM 2002 protocol and achieved morphological remission after a median follow-up of 24 months (range: 18-36 months). Seventeen patients achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity post-induction. MRD at day 33 showed a significant association with the probability of disease relapse ( p  = 0.0015). There were five deaths (24%), one due to toxicity and four due to relapse. The study recorded an 18-month overall survival of 76%. These results were achieved despite financial constraints. Data were entered into a spreadsheet, and statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 23. Continuous data are presented as ranges and medians, while categorical variables are shown as percentages and numbers. A chi-squared test for association, with a significance level set at p  < 0.05, was conducted as indicated. AYA T-ALL/LBL requires intensive treatment regimens. With biological characterization of LBL/ALL and close therapy monitoring, encouraging outcomes can be achieved even in resource-limited settings.

A Multicenter Cohort Study on Children Suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Effects of Obesity on Mortality

Background

Overweight and obesity have been reported in specific patients and disease survivors compared to other types of childhood cancer. This study is aimed at determining the effect of children's obesity on the mortality of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Method

Children admitted to Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Hospital from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020 participated in this study. 1070 children were analyzed. A multi-middle-class poll was conducted. All children under the age of 15 were followed up within 24 months of diagnosis. Overweight and obesity are identified according to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Premature death and reoccurrence of emergencies are the main consequences.

Results

The initial ethical rate for the first 24 months of testing was 19.9% (NS 213). The lowest cancer survival rate (DFS) was childhood obesity (73%) (24 months), compared with average weight (81%). Diagnosis of overweight/obesity is a predictor of early death (WHO: HR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-2.0; CDC: HR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.3). However, there was no association between overweight and obesity (WHO: HR = 1.5, 95% effective interval: 0.9-2.5; CDC: human resources = 1.0, 95% effective interval: 0.6-1.6) and obesity (WHO: HR = 1.5, 95% effective interval: 0.7-3.2; CDC: HR = 1.4, 95% effective interval: 0.9-2.3). Early recurrence was observed.

Conclusion

Overweight and obese people belong to the subclass with a high risk of death in the treatment of leukemia.

Effect of Treatment in a Specialized Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Setting on 5-Year Survival in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Simple Summary

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a worse prognosis than children. In addition to differences in biology—such as higher incidence of unfavorable genetic alterations in the AYA population—this might be related to the fact that ALL patients under a certain age (often 18 years) are generally treated in special pediatric hemato-oncology settings, which is associated with improved survival, while patients above that age are treated in adult hemato-oncology care settings. Based on previous research, adult treatment settings have increasingly adopted pediatric-inspired protocols, which appear to have led to increased survival of adolescent ALL patients. This study aims to assess whether there remains an effect of treatment of ALL patients in a specialized pediatric hemato-oncology setting on 5-year survival. This study provides insight into the effects of such treatment for ALL patients, and may stimulate further research into causal relationships in other oncological conditions.

Abstract

Survival rates of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are inferior to those of pediatric ALL patients. In part, this may be caused by differences in treatment setting. Generally, children are treated in specialized pediatric hemato-oncology settings, whereas AYAs are treated in adult hemato-oncology settings. Since 2005, adult treatment protocols have included pediatric-inspired chemotherapy, which has been the standard of care for AYAs from 2008 onwards. This study aims to assess whether, despite protocols in both settings having become more similar, there remains an effect of treatment in specialized pediatric hemato-oncology settings on 5-year survival for ALL patients in the Netherlands. We used nationwide registry data (2004–2013) on 472 ALL patients aged between 10 and 30 years old. A fuzzy regression discontinuity design was applied to estimate the treatment effect using two-stage least squares regression with the treatment threshold at 17 years and 7 months of age, adjusting for sex, age at diagnosis, and immunophenotype. We found a risk difference of 0.419 (p = 0.092; 95% CI = −0.0686; 0.907), meaning a 41.9 percentage point greater probability of surviving five years after diagnosis for ALL patients treated in specialized pediatric hemato-oncology settings. Our results suggest that ALL patients around the threshold could benefit from increased collaboration between pediatric and adult hemato-oncology in terms of survival.