Prognostic factors and treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract

Introduction. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is ? malignant, clonal proliferation of B or T lymphocyte precursors. Prognostic factors play an important role in the treatment of this disease. The objective of the study was to determine whether individual clinical and laboratory parameters may have a predictive significance for relapse and the disease outcome. Material and Methods. A retrospective study included 53 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated at the Institute for Child and Youth Health Care of Vojvodina. The following clinical and laboratory parameters were examined: gender, age at diagnosis, initial white blood cell count, peripheral blood blast percentage, bone marrow blast percentage, prednisone response on day 8 of treatment, immunophenotypic characteristics of leukemic blasts, and infiltration of the central nervous system. Relapses and lethal outcomes were analyzed as well. Results. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.4 ? 7.8 years. Prognostic factors associated with poor outcome were: age over 10 years, mature cell leukemia, and central nervous system involvement. Relapse was found in 6 children (11.3%). Lethal outcome was recorded in 7 children (13.2%). Conclusion. Treatment of childhood lymphoblastic leukemia should be based on the prognostic factors for each patient. The results of this study are consistent with the current literature.