Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Nelarabine has shown impressive single agent clinical activity in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), but has been associated with significant neurotoxicities in heavily pre-treated patients. We showed previously that it was safe to add nelarabine to a BFM-86 chemotherapy backbone (AALL00P2). Children's Oncology Group (COG) AALL0434 is a Phase III study designed to test the safety and efficacy of nelarabine when incorporated into a COG augmented BFM-based regimen, which increases exposure to agents with potential neurotoxicity compared to the historical AALL00P2 regimen. PROCEDURE: AALL0434 included a safety phase to assess nelarabine toxicity. Patients with high-risk (HR) T-ALL were randomized to receive Capizzi-style escalating methotrexate (MTX) plus pegaspargase or high dose (HD) MTX with/without six five-days courses of nelarabine. We report results from 94 patients who participated in the initial safety phase of the study. RESULTS: There were no differences in the incidence of peripheral motor neuropathies, sensory neuropathies or central neurotoxicities among those randomized to the nelarabine (n = 47) and non-nelarabine arms (n = 47). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of nelarabine to COG-augmented BFM chemotherapy regimen is safe and feasible. The ongoing AALL0434 Efficacy Phase will determine whether the addition of nelarabine treatment improves outcome for patients with T-ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

BACKGROUND: Given the success of immunotherapeutic approaches in hematologic malignancies, the COG designed a phase I/II study to determine whether the addition of epratuzumab (anti-CD22) to an established chemotherapy platform improves rates of second remission (CR2) in pediatric patients with B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and early bone marrow relapse. PROCEDURE: Therapy consisted of three established blocks of re-induction chemotherapy. Epratuzumab (360 mg/m2 /dose) was combined with chemotherapy on weekly x 4 (B1) and twice weekly x 4 [eight doses] (B2) schedules during the first re-induction block. Remission rates and minimal residual disease (MRD) status were compared to historical rates observed with the identical chemotherapy platform alone. RESULTS: CR2 was achieved in 65 and 66%, of the evaluable B1 (n = 54) and B2 patients (n = 60), respectively; unchanged from that observed historically without epratuzumab. Rates of MRD negativity (<0.01%) were 31% in B1 (P = 0.4128) and 39% in B2 patients (P = 0.1731), compared to 25% in historical controls. The addition of epratuzumab was well tolerated, with a similar toxicity profile to that observed with the re-induction chemotherapy platform regimen alone. CONCLUSIONS: Epratuzumab was well tolerated in combination with re-induction chemotherapy. While CR2 rates were not improved compared to historical controls treated with chemotherapy alone, there was a non-significant trend towards improvement in MRD response with the addition of epratuzumab (twice weekly for eight doses) to re-induction chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

BACKGROUND: Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) present with aggressive disease and a poor prognosis. Early relapse within 6-9 months of diagnosis is common. Approximately 75% of infants have MLL-rearranged (MLL-R) ALL with event free survival (EFS) ranging from 20% to 30%. Children's Oncology Group (COG) P9407 used shortened (46 weeks), intensified therapy to address early relapse and poor EFS. PROCEDURE: P9407 therapy was modified three times for induction toxicity resulting in three cohorts of therapy. One hundred forty-seven infants were enrolled in the third cohort. RESULTS: We report an overall 5-year EFS and OS of 42.3 +/- 6% and 52.9 +/- 6.5% respectively. Poor prognostic factors included age /=50,000/mul. For infants 90 days (P < 0.0001). Among infants >90 days of age, 5-year EFS rates were 43.8 +/- 8% for MLL-R versus 69.1 +/- 13.6% for MLL-germline ALL (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Age