Management of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in routine clinical practice: Minimal residual disease testing, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in Belgium, Greece and Switzerland

Leuk Res. 2020 Apr:91:106334. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2020.106334. Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe real-world management and clinical and economic outcomes of patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Belgium, Greece and Switzerland.

Methods: This descriptive, retrospective medical chart review collected patient-level data in 2018 from adults with ≥1 minimal residual disease (MRD) test during front-line ALL treatment. Data were stratified by MRD status.

Results: Eighty-two patients were included (median age 44 years, 23 % Philadelphia chromosome-positive; MRD-positive: n = 17, MRD-negative: n = 50, MRD result unknown: n = 15). HyperCVAD (32 %) and HOVON (26 %) were the most frequently used front-line treatment protocols; 22 % of patients received stem cell transplantation. Overall, 76 % of ALL patients were hospitalized (mean 1.1 hospitalization/month). Complete hematological response (CRh) occurred in 66/82 patients (80 %). Median relapse-free survival from CRh was 32.7 months (MRD-positive: 11.7 months; MRD-negative: 33.3 months). Median overall survival from diagnosis was 28.9 months (MRD-positive: 15.3 months; MRD-negative: not reached). Most patients (88 %) were MRD tested during induction; testing rates considerably decreased thereafter (39 % during consolidation).

Conclusions: B-cell precursor ALL represents a clinical burden and impacts healthcare resources; MRD-positive patients have worse prognosis than MRD-negative patients. Efforts should be made to adhere to recommendations for MRD testing in clinical guidelines.

Keywords: B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Clinical outcomes; Disease management; Healthcare resource utilization; Minimal residual disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Belgium
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Disease Management
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Greece
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm, Residual
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis*
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / mortality
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Prognosis
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Analysis
  • Switzerland
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vincristine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide