Can Machine Learning Models Predict Asparaginase-associated Pancreatitis in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute pancreatitis following asparaginase treatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a heterozygous SPINK1 c.194 + 2T>C intronic variant: a case report

Background

Asparaginase is a critical component of chemotherapy for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but its use is often complicated by asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP). Genetic predispositions, such as variants in the SPINK1 gene, have been linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis. However, the role of genetic factors in relation to asparaginase treatment remains incompletely understood, partly because mutations in pancreatitis-causing genes are rarely found in pediatric ALL.

Case description

A four-year and three-month-old Chinese girl was admitted to our hospital due to fever for half a day, with no history of significant prior medical history. Initial blood tests revealed hematological abnormalities, including leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytosis. Bone marrow aspiration identified 81.5% blast cells with B-lymphocyte morphology and immunophenotype, leading to a diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The patient began treatment under the CCCG-ALL-2015 protocol, which included PEG-asparaginase (PEG-asp). On day 10 of induction, she developed AAP, which was primarily characterized by severe epigastric pain and elevated serum amylase. Despite effective symptom management with analgesics and anti-inflammatory therapy, AAP recurred following administration of L-asparaginase (L-asp). Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous SPINK1 c.194 + 2T>C variant (rs148954387), a well-known pathogenic variant associated with increased susceptibility to pancreatitis. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the SPINK1 variant was inherited from her asymptomatic mother. The patient's AAP was managed conservatively, and an asparaginase-free regimen ultimately achieved complete remission without recurrence of pancreatitis.

Conclusions

The identification of the SPINK1 c.194 + 2T>C variant, which is recognized as pathogenic, provides valuable information for understanding the heightened risk of AAP in our pediatric ALL patient. Our case underscores the potential role of genetic predisposition in the development of AAP and highlights the importance of considering genetic screening prior to asparaginase therapy in pediatric ALL patients to identify those at increased risk.

Pancreas-related persisting sequelae in ALL survivors with a history of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis: A part of the ALL-STAR study

OBJECTIVES

Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) occurs in up to 18% of patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, long-term sequelae are largely unexplored. We aimed to explore pancreatic sequelae among ALL survivors with and without AAP.

METHODS

We investigated pancreatic sequelae in a national cohort of ALL survivors, aged 1-45 years at ALL diagnosis treated according to the NOPHO-ALL2008 protocol and included sex- and age-matched community controls.

RESULTS

We included 368 survivors (median follow-up 6.9 years), including 47 survivors with AAP and 369 controls. The p-lipase and p-pancreas-type amylase levels were lower in AAP survivors compared with both non-AAP survivors (Medians: 23 U/L [IQR 14-32] and 18 U/L [IQR 10-25] versus 29 [IQR 24-35] and 22 [17-28], p < .001 and p = .002) and community controls (28 U/L [IQR 22-33] and 21 U/L [IQR 17-26], both p < .006). Fecal-elastase was more frequently reduced in AAP survivors compared with non-AAP survivors (7/31 vs. 4/144, p = .001). Persisting pancreatic sequelae were found in 15/47 of AAP survivors and 20/323 of non-AAP survivors (p < .001), including diabetes mellitus in 2/39 of AAP survivors and 2/273 of non-AAP survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

ALL survivors with AAP are at increased risk of persisting pancreatic dysfunction and require special attention during follow-up.

Clinical summary of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients complicated with asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in SCCLG-ALL-2016 protocol

Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a common and fatal complication after ASNase treatment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Here, a total of 1063 pediatric ALL patients treated with SCCLG-ALL-2016 regimen were collected since October 2016 to June 2020, including 35 patients with AAP. The clinical characteristics of AAP and non-AAP patients were compared. In AAP patients, the possible factors that affected the recurrence of AAP were analyzed, and the possible risk factors related to ALL-relapse were discussed. The results showed that age was a risk factor (P = .017) that affect the occurrence of AAP. In AAP patients, AAP tended to develop after the second use of PEG-ASNase (25.71%). In the follow-up chemotherapy, 17 patients re-exposed to ASNase and 7 cases developed AAP again with a percentage was 41.2%. There were no special factors that related with the recurrence of AAP. This study also found no association between the occurrence of AAP and prognosis of ALL, with the 4-year incidence of ALL relapse in AAP and non-AAP patients were 15.9% v.s.11.7% (HR: 1.009, 95% CI:0.370-2.752, P = .986), and there were no special factors that related with the ALL relapse among AAP patients. Based on the above results, the occurrence of AAP is related to age and should be vigilant after the second use of PEG-ASNase after use in pediatric ALL patients. Moreover, AAP is not associated with ALL relapse, but there is a high AAP recurrence rate when re-exposure to ASNase.

Severe complications in the induction phase of therapy in a pediatric patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report

RATIONALE

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents approximately 1-quarter of all new cases of childhood cancer. Although overall survival following diagnosis has improved in recent years, the toxicity of chemotherapy remains a concern.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We describe an 11-year-old male patient diagnosed with T-cell precursor ALL who developed compounded complications during the induction phase of chemotherapy. Patient was hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantology of the Medical University of Lublin, Poland. The patient's induction therapy was started according to the AIEOP-BFM ALL 2017 protocol IAp (International Collaborative Treatment Protocol for Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia).

DIAGNOSES

Patient developed compounded complications such as cholecystitis, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis and myelosuppression.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient was treated with leukapheresis, received a broad-spectrum antibiotic, potassium supplementation and hepatoprotective treatment and laparotomy cholecystectomy.

OUTCOMES

In the available literature, there is a limited amount of similar clinical cases with multiple complications in pediatric patients with ALL. Toxicities cause delays in the treatment of the underlying disease.

LESSONS

In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, there are side effects during the treatment such as cholecystitis and pancreatitis. Complications during treatment require a quick response and modification of disease management. Abdominal ultrasound performed before treatment makes it possible to observe the dynamics of lesions. Genetic mutation analysis could allow us to more precisely respond to the possible susceptibility to and appearance of complications after the use of a given chemotherapeutic agent.

Long-term effects of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a common and severe toxicity that occurs during asparaginase treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and has received increasing attention during the last decades. However, no consensus regarding follow-up exists. In this commentary, we highlight potential long-term health-related effects following asparaginase-associated pancreatitis, thereby providing clinicians with a framework when following these patients during and after cessation of therapy.