Early post-induction Augmented therapy improves outcome in children and
adolescents with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Abstract
Introduction: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) accounts for
approximately 15% of all newly diagnosed ALL in children and
adolescents and is associated with worse outcomes compared to pre-B ALL.
We aimed to decrease T-ALL relapses by intensifying our regimen.
Methods: Patients with T-ALL were treated using two different regimens;
before September 2014, patients were treated per St. Jude Total XV
protocol; subsequently, a major change was adopted by adding two
intensive blocks: FLAG and Re-Intensification (fludarabine,
dexamethasone, cytarabine, etoposide and asparaginase). Cranial
radiation was limited to patients with WBC >=100k/µl at
diagnosis and/or patients with CNS2/CNS3 status. Results: Between June
2005 and April 2020, a total of 100 patients (76 males) were treated and
followed for a median of 70 months (range, 14-181 months). Median age at
diagnosis was 9 years (range,0.5-17.8 years). Forty-eight patients were
diagnosed after September 2014 and received the augmented regimen; their
median follow up was 46 months (range,14-74 months). The 5-yr-EFS
estimates for patients who received the augmented regimen vs. standard
regimen were 87%±4.9% vs 67%±6.8% (p=0.03); and the 5-yr-OS
estimates were 87%±5.1% vs. 71%±6.3% (p=0.06) respectively.
Treatment related mortality (TRM) were reported in 2 patients treated
using our standard regimen but none for patients who received the
augmented regimen. Conclusions: We implemented a novel approach with
early intensification added to a backbone of modified St. Jude Total-XV
regimen for patients with T-ALL that resulted in improved outcome with
no treatment related mortality.