Cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone followed by second allogeneic transplant for the treatment of children with refractory juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2014 Aug;36(6):491-4. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000000077.

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains the only curative option for most patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). However, persistent disease and relapse rates after transplant range from 26% to 58%. We report the successful use of second HSCT after preparation with mitoxantrone and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) for patients with refractory or recurrent disease. Between 1993 and 2006, 5 children who underwent HSCT at our institution as initial therapy for JMML had persistent disease or relapsed. Pre-HSCT conditioning varied and donors were either HLA-matched siblings (n=2) or matched unrelated donors (n=3). After initial HSCT, they subsequently received high-dose Ara-C (3 g/m IV) every 12 hours on days -8 through -3 and mitoxantrone (10 mg/m/d IV) on days -8, -7, -6 followed by second HSCT from their original donors. All 5 patients are alive at 88, 179, 199, 234, and 246 months with no evidence of JMML, no significant toxicity, and 100% donor chimera as determined by PCR short-tandem repeat analysis. Our experience supports second transplant utilizing high-dose Ara-C and mitoxantrone in children with JMML who do not respond or relapse after first transplant.

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile / therapy*
  • Male
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage*
  • Recurrence
  • Retreatment
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplantation Chimera
  • Transplantation Conditioning / methods
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Cytarabine
  • Mitoxantrone