Treatment of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: approaches used by pediatric oncologists and bone marrow transplant physicians

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Jun;58(6):840-5. doi: 10.1002/pbc.23269. Epub 2011 Jul 27.

Abstract

Background: Management of relapsed B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is challenging and varied. We hypothesized that treatment approaches differ between pediatric oncologists and bone marrow transplant (BMT) physicians.

Procedure: A survey addressing management of relapsed ALL was sent to pediatric oncologists (n = 883) and BMT (n = 86) physicians across North America.

Results: A number of similarities in treatment approaches were identified including: choice of chemotherapy for re-induction/consolidation, preference for unrelated donors (URDs) in very early marrow relapse and the choice to not use URD donors in late marrow relapse. However, differences between the two disciplines were noted. For patients who relapsed 18-36 months from diagnosis, the majority of oncologists (53.7%) would retreat with chemotherapy while a majority BMT physicians (70.3%) recommended URD transplant (P < 0.001). Oncologists were also less likely to use minimal residual disease (MRD) in relapse assessment compared to BMT physicians (52% vs. 67.2%; P = 0.028) and more oncologists believed MRD testing was experimental and/or not proven in relapsed ALL (27.1% vs. 12.3%; P = 0.011).

Conclusions: This study highlights management differences in children with ALL between pediatric oncologists and BMT physicians, identifying opportunities for collaborative clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / standards
  • Medical Oncology / statistics & numerical data*
  • Pediatrics / standards
  • Pediatrics / statistics & numerical data
  • Physicians / standards
  • Physicians / statistics & numerical data
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Salvage Therapy / standards
  • Salvage Therapy / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents