Obesity in Children with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: What is its
Incidence and Prognostic Significance?
Abstract
Objective: To compare outcomes data of obese and non-obese pediatric
patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia from the Cancer and Leukemia
Group B trial C9710 and the Children’s Oncology Group trial AAML0631.
Methods: Data including demographics, adverse events, overall survival
and event free survival was analyzed, with a focus on mortality in obese
patients. Results: The incidence of obesity was 34% on C9710 and 35%
on AAML0631. There was significantly lower overall survival in the obese
population on AAML0631. Thirteen patients died during therapy or in
follow up; seven of these occurred during induction. Conclusion: The
incidence of obesity is higher in patients with APL compared to the
general population. The presence and degree of obesity can influence OS
on the most current treatment regimen. This implies the need for close
management of obese patients at diagnosis as well as reinforces the need
for further research on obesity driven APL