Survivors Of Childhood Acute Leukemia Research Articles

Association of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 with Bone Mineral Density in Survivors of Childhood Acute Leukemia.

In this study, we investigated bone mineral deficits in children who survived childhood acute leukemia and explored the association between the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and bone mineral density (BMD). This retrospective analysis enrolled 214 patients treated for acute leukemia, measuring various factors including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and lumbar spine BMD after the end of treatment. The study found an overall prevalence of low BMD in 15% of participants. Notably, IGF-1 levels were significantly different between patients with low BMD and those with normal BMD, and correlation analyses revealed associations of the IGF-1 level and BMI with lumbar spine BMD. Regression analyses further supported this relationship, suggesting that higher IGF-1 levels were associated with a decreased risk of low BMD. The study findings suggest that IGF-1 may serve as a valuable tool for evaluating and predicting osteoporosis in survivors of childhood acute leukemia.

Neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes in survivors of childhood leukemia with Down syndrome.

The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a developmentally tailored neurocognitive assessment in survivors of childhood acute leukemia with Down syndrome (DS-leukemia). A secondary aim was to compare outcomes in the DS-leukemia group to a historical comparison group of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer. Survivors of DS-leukemia (n = 43; 56% male, mean [SD] age at diagnosis = 4.3 [4.5] years; age at evaluation = 15 [7.9] years) completed a neurocognitive assessment battery that included direct measures of attention, executive function, and processing speed, and proxy ratings of attention problems and executive dysfunction. Direct assessment outcomes were compared to a historical comparison cohort of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer (DS-control; n = 117; 56% male, mean [SD] age at evaluation = 12.7 [3.4] years). Rates of valid task completion ranged from 54% to 95%, suggesting feasibility for most direct assessment measures. Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly lower completion rates on measures of executive function (p = 0.008) and processing speed (p = 0.018) compared to the DS-control group. There were no other significant group differences in completion rates. Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly more accurate performance on two measures of executive function (p = 0.032; p = 0.005). Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly more problems with executive function as identified on proxy ratings (6.5% vs. 32.6%, p = <0.001). Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk for developing acute leukemia compared to the general population but are systematically excluded from neurocognitive outcome studies among leukemia survivors. This study demonstrated the feasibility of evaluating neurocognitive late effects in leukemia survivors with DS using novel measures appropriate for populations with intellectual developmental disorder.

Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Leukemia

Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains a key treatment of high-risk childhood leukemia despite a wide range of long-term complications. Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) is a severe complication of HSCT characterized by the immune response of transplanted cells against the recipient's organs. Adults undergoing HSCT are particularly susceptible to experiencing cGvHD. This complication is generally considered to be much less common when HSCT is performed during childhood and adolescence, though very limited long-term data is available. The present study from the LEA program aims to provide a better understanding of cGvHD and its long-term impact in long-term childhood leukemia survivors. Methods: LEA is a long-term follow-up program involving all childhood acute leukemia survivors treated in the French participating centers since 1980 (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01756599). The patients eligible to the present study were all patients included in the LEA cohort treated with HSCT. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to provide a long-term and comprehensive cGvHD evaluation in childhood leukemia survivors. Secondary objectives included identifying risk factors for cGvHD, assessing the impact of the disease on quality of life (QoL), and evaluating its evolution over time. The long-term cGvHD data were generated during an in-person dedicated follow-up visit by a clinician using 1) a dedicated questionnaire, and 2) the eGVHD application (UZ Leuven, Belgium) for standardizing the evaluation. QoL was evaluated using the SF36 questionnaire. Results: The study included a cohort of 446 patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (59%), acute myeloid leukemia (34%), or another hematological malignancy (7%). The age at HSCT was 8.9 ±0.3 years (mean ±standard error of mean). The dedicated long-term evaluation of cGvHD was performed 8.8 ±0.3 years after HSCT. The stem cell source was matched sibling donor (32%), mismatched related donor (9%), unrelated donor (37%), and cord blood (22%). HSCT was performed in first complete remission in 47% of patients. Myeloablative conditioning and total body irradiation were administered to 91% and 56% of patients, respectively. Anti-thymocyte globulin and ciclosporin were given to 49% and 94% of patients, respectively. At the time of the study, most patients never experienced (n=324, 73%) or recovered (n=28, 6%) from cGvHD. However, a significant proportion of patients (n=94, 21%) suffered long-term cGvHD of variable severity (45% mild, 33% moderate, and 22% severe) (Figure 1). Patients mostly had isolated organ defects (most frequently skin, eyes, and mouth defects). Multiple organs defects were also reported in some patients without recurrent patterns. At the time of cGvHD evaluation, patients suffering cGvHD mostly remained untreated (83%, n=78). Systemic treatment (ruxolitinib, ciclosporine, ibrutinib, and sirolimus), as well as local treatment were used in 11% and 5% of patients, respectively. cGvHD was significantly associated with several other long-term complications (thyroid function defects, cataract, lung function defects, osteonecrosis, diabetes). In a multivariate analysis (Table 1), age at HSCT was significantly associated with long-term cGvHD (odds ratio 1.06 for each additional year, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.1, p=0.01). Sex, type of leukemia, time from HSCT, stem cell source, relapse, number of HSCT and total body irradiation were not significantly associated with long-term cGvHD risk. Long-term cGvHD had a marked detrimental effect on QoL, even after adjusting to the total number of other long-term complications. The physical and psychic SF36 adjusted composite scores in patients with versus without cGvHD were 50 ±1.5 versus 55 ±0.7 (p=0.01) and 38 ±1.9 versus 43 ±1.0 (p=0.01), respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that cGvHD is a frequent and severe complication in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia treated with HSCT. Higher age at HSCT is the main risk factor for long-term cGVHD in this population. Long-term cGvHD significantly and independently jeopardizes the survivors' QoL. This complication is probably underrecognized and undertreated. There is a great need for a systematic and standardized cGvHD evaluation in this population.

FRI671 Association Of Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (igf-1) With Bone Mineral Density (bmd) In Survivors Of Childhood Acute Leukemia

Abstract Disclosure: S. Kim: None. S. Park: None. S. Sim: None. S. Kim: None. M. Ahn: None. K. Shin Hee: None. W. Cho: None. C. Kyung Soon: None. M. Jung: None. B. Suh: None. Purpose: To investigate bone mineral deficit in children survivors of childhood acute leukemia and analyze the association of IGF-1 with BMD status Methods : A total 214 patients (aged 8.47±4.42 for girls and 8.31±4.09 for boys at diagnosis) who were treated for acute leukemia were retrospectively reviewed. Types of leukemia, transplantation, and radiation therapy were investigated. Standard deviation scores (SDSs) of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and lumbar spine BMD were measured at the end of treatment. Lumbar spine BMD was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Its relationships with calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, calcitriol, parathyroid hormone, growth hormone, IGF-1, and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were analyzed. Low BMD was defined lumbar spine BMD SDS less than -2.0 according to International Society for Clinical Densitometry guideline. Results: The overall prevalence of low BMD was found to be 15% (32/214). Age at diagnosis, transplantation, and radiation therapy were not significantly different between low BMD and normal BMD groups, however, BMI SDS and IGF-1 SDS were different between those two groups (-0.84±1.94 vs. 0.17±2.09, P = 0.012; -1.23 ±0.82 vs. -0.72 ± 0.78, P = 0.001, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that IGF-1 SDS is associated with BMI SDS and lumbar spine BMD SDS (rho=0.19, P=0.006; rho=0.248, P=0.001, respectively). Lumbar spine BMD SDS was related to BMI SDS and IGF-1 SDS by multivariate linear regression analysis (β = 0.15, P = 0.003; β = 0.31, P = 0.021, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher IGF-1 SDS was associated with a decreased of prevalence of low BMD (odds ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval: 0.24-0.75, P = 0.003). Conclusion: IGF-1 SDS was related to BMD, especially lumbar spine BMD, and a risk of prevalence of low BMD in children and adolescents. IGF-1 SDS seems to be a good tool for evaluating and predicting osteoporosis in children and adolescents. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Brothers and sisters of childhood acute leukemia survivors: Their long-term quality of life and its determinants.

Childhood cancer confront the whole family with a traumatic event. Because brothers and sisters may encounter emotional problems that can remain for a long time and that only few studies have assessed their long-term outcome, our present objectives were to describe the long-term quality of life (QoL) of childhood leukemia survivors' siblings and to explore its determinant. Brothers and sisters (from 8-year-old) of survivors included in the French LEA Cohort completed a QoL questionnaire (according to their age). Scores were compared with those reported by age- and gender-matched French general population and by survivors. Using a clustering method, siblings were categorized into 3 groups depending on their level of QoL's scores and factors likely to be linked with these clusters were explored with multivariate analyses. We included 689 brothers and sisters (313 minors, 376 adults) and the mean time from diagnosis was 13.2 ± 6.6 years. Minor siblings reported higher QoL scores than general population (p < 0.001), but a lower score for relationship with family than survivors (p < 0.001). In adult siblings, Mental Component Summary score was lower than general population (p < 0.001). Level of siblings' QoL was linked with female gender, but no association was found with cancer-related factors. Brothers and sisters expressed a divergent perception of their long-term QoL depending on their age. To minimize the impact from childhood to adulthood, long-term attention should also be paid to siblings, often referred as "forgotten children".

O-267 Uterine volume is dramatically decreased in Stem Cell Hematopoietic Transplantation childhood survivors whatever the conditioning regimen. A case-control MRI study in the L.E.A cohort

Abstract Study question What is the impact of the type of myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimen applied for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on uterine volume of childhood leukemia survivors? Summary answer Uterine volume is significantly decreased after HSCT. Not only Total Body Irradiation (TBI), but also high-dose chemotherapy-based regimens containing alkylating agents induce uterine damage. What is known already Premature ovarian failure after HSCT is well known, as well as the uterine damage induced by TBI on uterine volume. A few studies have reported smaller uterus after HSCT in women treated with chemotherapy only. In these studies, uterus volume was assessed by a transabdominal and/or transvaginal ultrasonography, and primary diagnosis, age at treatment and chemotherapy regimen were heterogeneous. These preliminary results suggested that alkylating agents could induce uterine damage, as well as they induce fibrosis and vascular damage in ovarian stroma. The impact of chemotherapy on myometrium and uterus is still few investigated. Study design, size, duration A prospective multicentric national study was conducted between 2017, November and 2021, June in 16 University Teaching Hospitals that are following more than 4 500 childhood acute leukemia survivors enrolled in the L.E.A cohort. We included 88 adult women treated for a childhood acute leukemia with HSCT and who agreed a pelvic MRI assessment. Every case was matched 1:1 to control women who underwent MRI for benign ovarian cysts or benign pelvic pathology. Participants/materials, setting, methods Pelvic MRI scans were performed with a 1.5-T or 3T magnetic resonance scanner, including diffusion-weighted imaging sequences. Scans were centralized for a double-blinded lecture by two radiologists. The main outcome was the uterine volume. The secondary outcomes were uterine body-to-cervix ratio and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Univariate and multivariate analyses have investigated the association of clinical and imaging variables with conditioning regimen and age at HSCT. Main results and the role of chance The mean age in HSCT group was 26.5 + 6.3 years. Mean age at HSCT was 9.1 + 0.3 years with a mean follow-up of 16.4 + 0.5 years. Among the 88 women included in HSCT group, two groups of conditioning regimens have been compared to the control group: a chemotherapy-only MAC regimen group with high dose of alkylating agents (n = 34) and one TBI-based regimen group (n = 52). Two MRI scans were not available. Among HSCT group, 75 women were considered as “normally impregnated” by estrogens, by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or thanks to a residual ovarian function. Uterine volume was significantly decreased both after chemotherapy-only MAC regimen and after TBI, with respectively 45.3 + 5.6 and 19.6 + 1.9 mL Vs 79.7 + 3.3 mL in control population (p &amp;lt; 0.01). In chemotherapy-only MAC regimen group, uterine volume was dramatically decreased in POI women without HRT compared to those having a hormonal impregnation (15.2 + 2.6 Vs 49.3 + 6 mL, p &amp;lt; 0.05). In contrast, after TBI, uterine volume was similar in all women, with no positive effect of HRT on uterine volume (respectively 16.3 + 2.6 Vs 20.1 + 2.2 mL). Limitations, reasons for caution The number of pregnancies obtained spontaneously or after oocyte donation in our study population was too low to evaluate the obstetrical impact of uterine damage caused by non-TBI regimens. Wider implications of the findings Our results provide strong evidence that a MAC regimen containing high dose of alkylating agents could induce uterine damage. In these sub-group of women, HRT increases the volume of the uterus compared to non-treated women. After TBI, uterine volume is dramatically decreased, with no benefit of HRT on it. Trial registration number NCT 03583294

Cardiovascular risk and insulin resistance in childhood leukemia survivors

Material and methods: a retrospective study of childhood acute leukemia survivors. Survivors with a diagnosis of leukemia before 16 years of age in a tertiary hospital, during the period of 1998-2018, were selected, who had completed their treatment at least two years earlier. We examined: blood adipokine levels and carbohydrate metabolism, body composition by bioimpedance, and carotid status by ultrasound. Somatometric measures were also taken. Results: the registry showed 82 children diagnosed with acute leukemia, aged between 6 and 16 years. Only 22 met the criteria to be included in the study. Results reveled that 32 % of the sample met the criteria for overweight-obesity, and 36 % had high insulin resistance indexes (IR). Leptin levels were higher in women (15.45 vs. 3.25; p = 0.044) and in obese and overweight subjects, as was the leptin/adiponectin ratio, which rises in the presence of IR (2.52 vs. 0.45; p = 0.037). We observed an increase in carotid intima-media thickness in relation to BMI (0.008; CI, -0.002 to 0.013; p = 0.007) without any association with an increase in fat mass in these patients (0.204; CI, -0.043 to 0.451; p = 0.101). Conclusions: childhood leukemia survivors have a high cardiovascular risk, characterized by an increase in IR, not associated with an increase in fat mass. This risk could justify the implementation of preventive actions in these long-lived patients.

Physical activity reduces longitudinal strain alteration in children treated by anthracyclins

Death rate in acute leukemia is very low nowadays. Dilated cardiomyopathy due to anthracyclins remains a current cause of morbidity and mortality in mid-term and long-term follow-up of survivors. Classic therapies for chronic heart failure is not efficient in those cardiomyopathies. We studied children treated by anthracyclins with or without concomittant radiotherapy a few years ago, to define the profile of left ventricular alterations and the effect of steady physical activity. We included patients treated between 2000 and 2018 by anthracyclins in Marseille and followed-up in the multicentric prospective cohort of adolescents and children leukemia. We quantified physical activity in MET hour per week before and after therapy for leukemia. Forty patients were inluded, aged from 5 to 25. All were treated by anthracyclins for acute leukemias. The mean cumulated dose of doxorubicin-equivalent was 191 mg/m 2 . Seven received total body irradiation of 12 Gray at the same time. Fourteen children were used to practice physical activity before leukemia and 36 patients after leukemia. We diagnosed 3 dilated cardiomyopathies and observed 10 longitudinal strain alterations. Radiotherapy and cumulated dose > 240 mg/m 2 were risk factors for developing strain alteration. The practice of physical activity more than 28 MET.h per week after the treatment of acute leukemia was an independent protective factor for developing longitudinal strain alteration ( Fig. 1 , Table 1 ). Moderate steady physical activity seams to be a protective factor for developing longitudinal strain alteration is patients treated during childhood by anthracyclins. This a safe treatment, with pleitropic benefits and we determined a target of 28 MET.h per week to help oncologists for long-term follow-up of survivors of childhood acute leukemia.

Risks of late mortality and morbidity among survivors of childhood acute leukemia with Down syndrome: A population-based cohort study.

Children with leukemia and Down syndrome (DS) are at higher risk of acute treatment toxicities than those without DS. Whether late toxicity risks are also elevated is unknown. The authors identified all patients diagnosed with leukemia before the age of 18 years in Ontario, Canada between 1987 and 2013 and who survived greater than 5 years since their last pediatric cancer event. Survivors were divided into those with and without DS, matched by birth year, sex, leukemia type, and receipt of radiation. DS survivors were matched to individuals with DS without childhood cancer (DS controls) in a 1:10 ratio. Outcomes were identified through linkage to population-based health services databases. DS survivors (n = 79) experienced inferior overall survival compared to non-DS survivors (n = 231) (20-year overall survival, 81.7% ± 6.8% vs 98.3% ± 1.2%; hazard ratio [HR], 12.8; P < .0001) and to DS controls (n = 790; 96.3% ± 1.2%; HR, 5.4 P < .0001). Pulmonary and infectious deaths were noted among DS survivors. There was no difference in the incidence of congestive heart failure between DS survivors and either control cohort, nor of hearing loss or dementia between DS survivors and DS controls. DS survivors were at substantially higher risk of late mortality than non-DS survivors or DS controls. This excess risk was not attributable to cardiac- or subsequent malignant neoplasm-related late effects, historically main causes of premature death among non-DS survivors. Chronic morbidities associated with DS were not increased compared to DS controls. DS-specific surveillance guidelines may be warranted.

An Evidence Review of the Long-Term Consequences Associated with Components of the CHOP Chemotherapy Regimen in Transplant Recipients

Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus-driven post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV + PTLD) can be an aggressive, often deadly disease without any approved treatments. Current available treatments for EBV + PTLD may include cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). However, the long-term consequences of CHOP are poorly understood in immunocompromised transplant patients with cancer who may have different outcomes than immunocompetent cancer patients. This study reviewed and described the evidence for the long-term consequences associated with components of CHOP in transplant recipients.Methods: Potential long-term consequences of the components of CHOP were identified from the Children's Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-Up (COG LTFU) Guidelines. Abstracts were screened and eligibility was based on reporting data for the identified COG LTFU long-term consequences along with pre-specified criteria (English, systematic review, randomized controlled trial n>100, observation study n>100, case series n>20). Relevant studies that met the criteria were extracted and synthesized; of these, studies were selected if they evaluated patients who received any type of transplantation as part of their primary cancer treatment.Results: A total of 7 studies met the pre-specified selection criteria, all of which evaluated patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and none assessed solid organ transplant (SOT). None of the studies focused specifically on the CHOP regimen or EBV + PTLD. Long-term consequences of alkylating agents (eg, cyclophosphamide) and corticosteroids as primary treatment reported in these HCT studies included: hormone deficiencies and infertility (n=4 studies), osteonecrosis (n=2), and health status and quality of life (QoL; n=1).Results from three studies suggested that cancer survivors who received alkylating agents experienced hormone deficiencies and those with a HCT had a high risk. One quantified this by showing that, compared with cancer survivors without a history of HCT (CS), cancer survivors with a history of HCT (CS-HCT) and a history of total body irradiation had significantly impaired follicle stimulating hormone (40.42 vs 9.39 mIU/ml, P<0.001), Estradiol (15.09 vs 25.13 pg/ml, P=0.04), Inhibin B (10.61 vs 32.92 pg/ml, P=0.003), anti-Müllerian hormone (0.01 vs 1.28 ng/ml, P<0.001), antral follicle count (0.71 vs 17.78, P<0.001) and ovarian volume (1.82 vs 8.21 ml, P<0.001). In one study on the risk of osteonecrosis, the CS-HCT group had a significantly increased risk of developing osteonecrosis compared to the CS group treated with chemotherapy (6.8% vs 1.4%, respectively); cumulative incidence of osteonecrosis was 3.8% in the CS group for a steroid dose >5,835 mg/m 2 and 23.8% in the CS-HCT group for a post-transplant steroid dose >2,055 mg/m 2; and patients developed symptomatic osteonecrosis within a median of 2.4 years in the CS group with chemotherapy and 0.9 years after the first transplant in the CS-HCT group. A second study showed the rate ratio (RR) of osteonecrosis compared with a sibling comparison group was highest among the CS-HCT for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia (RR = 26.9, 66.5, and 93.1, respectively; P<0.001 for all). One study reported that childhood acute leukemia survivors treated with HCT with preparative regimen with either busulfan-cyclophosphamide or total body irradiation/cyclophosphamide had a significantly lower QoL short-form (SF)-36 mental and physical composite scores in both treatment groups compared with norms.Conclusions: Since only a small number of studies (7) of long-term consequences in transplant recipients were identified and none were seen in patients with EBV + PTLD or in SOT recipients, more research is needed to evaluate adverse consequences of CHOP or its components in EBV + PTLD, especially in SOT patients where no studies were found. Results from this review suggest that immunocompromised HCT recipients who were cancer survivors are significantly more impaired by long-term consequences (hormone deficiencies and infertility, osteonecrosis, and QoL) of alkylating agents (eg, cyclophosphamide) and corticosteroids as primary treatment compared with other cancer survivors without HCT. DisclosuresWatson: Atara Biotherapeutics: Current Employment, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Gadikota: Maple Health Group: Current Employment. Barlev: Atara Biotherapeutics: Current Employment. Beckerman: Maple Health Group: Current Employment.

Physical activity reduces longitudinal strain alteration in children treated by anthracyclins

Death rate in acute leukemia is very low nowadays. Dilated cardiomyopathy due to anthracyclins remains a current cause of morbidity and mortality in mid-term and long-term follow-up of survivors. Classic therapies for chronic heart failure is not efficient in those cardiomyopathies. We studied children treated by anthracyclins with or without concomittant radiotherapy a few years ago, to define the profile of left ventricular alterations and the effect of steady physical activity. We included patients treated between 2000 and 2018 by anthracyclins in Marseille and followed-up in the multicentric prospective cohort of adolescents and children leukemia. We quantified physical activity in MET hour per week before and after therapy for leukemia. 40 patients were inluded, aged from 5 to 25. All were treated by anthracyclins for acute leukemias. The mean cumulated dose of doxorubicin-equivalent was 191 mg/m 2 . Seven receaved total body irradiation of 12 Gray at the same time. 14 children were used to practice physical activity before leukemia and 36 patients after leukemia. We diagnosed 3 dilated cardiomyopathies and observed 10 longitudinal strain alterations. Radiotherapy and cumulated dose > 240 mg/m 2 were risk factors for developping strain alteration. The practice of physical activity more than 28 MET.h per week after the treatment of acute leukemia was an independant protective factor for developping longitudinal strain alteration ( Fig. 1 , Table 1 ). Moderate steady physical activity seams to be a protective factor for developping longitudinal strain alteration is patients treated during childhood by anthracyclins. This a safe treatment, with pleitropic benefits and we determined a target of 28 MET.h per week to help oncologists for long-term follow-up of survivors of childhood acute leukemia.

The Association of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 With Bone Mineral Density in Survivors of Childhood Acute Leukemia

Abstract Background: The purpose of the current study is to investigate bone mineral deficit of children in survivors of childhood acute leukemia and examine the association of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) with bone mineral density (BMD) status and the presence of osteoporosis. Methods: In a cross-sectional study of children diagnosed with different types of acute leukemia at age between 6 months and 18 years, serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, were assessed in relation to lumbar spine BMD (LSBMD) by using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and non-traumatic vertebral fracture by lateral thoracolumbar spine radiographs. Standard deviation scores (SDS) were calculated based on the age- and gender-adjusted population mean. Results: Among 189 children after completion of acute leukemia treatment, 22 (11.6%) children had LSBMD SDS less than -2.0 while 80 (42.3 %) children were diagnosed with osteoporosis. Mean areal BMD and LSBMD SDS of the subjects were 0.862±0.197 g/cm2 and -0.6±1.6, respectively. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were lower in children with LSBMD lower than -2.0 (P&amp;lt;0.05) and those with osteoporosis (P&amp;lt;0.05). LSBMD SDS showed linear correlation with serum IGF-1 (P=0.041). Low serum IGF-1 level (OR=0.724, P=0.042) and elder age of leukemia diagnosis (OR=1.089, P=0.023) were suggested risk factor of the occurrence of osteoporosis. Conclusions: Substantial number of survivors from childhood acute leukemia undergo bone mineral deficits, and serum IGF-1 status could be a prognostic factor associated with bone mass acquisition and future occurrence of osteoporosis.

Bone Mineral Density Evolution and Its Determinants in Long-term Survivors of Childhood Acute Leukemia: A Leucémies Enfants Adolescents Study.

This prospective study aimed to analyze determinants that can influence bone mineral density evolution in childhood acute leukemia survivors. Patients included were selected from the long-term follow-up LEA cohort and had dual energy radiograph absorptiometry scan between 10 and 18 years and after the age of 18. All scans were centrally reviewed. Bone mineral density was measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and whole body, and expressed as z-score. Eighty-nine patients (female 39, lymphoblastic leukemia 68, relapse 25, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 44, and mean age 15.4 and 20.1 years at the first and second scans, respectively) were studied. The first and second scan z-scores were significantly correlated (P < 10−3). Mean femoral neck and total hip z-scores improved significantly between the first and second scans, whereas no significant evolution occurred at the lumbar spine and whole-body level. On the second evaluation, 14.6% of patients had z-score <−2 at the lumbar spine and 4.3% at the femoral neck level. Gender, type of leukemia, transplantation, relapse, cumulative corticosteroid doses, or growth hormone deficiency did not have any significant impact on z-score variation. Younger age at diagnosis (≤8.5 years) proved an unfavorable risk factor for z-score evolution at the lumbar spine (P = 0.041); the trend did not reach statistical significance for metabolic syndrome (P = 0.054). At the femoral neck, both were associated with unfavorable z-score evolution (P = 0.003 and 0.025, respectively). Patients treated at a younger age and those with metabolic syndrome seem to be at higher risk of bone mineral density decline and should benefit from specific interventions.

The challenge of long-term follow-up of survivors of childhood acute leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in resource-limited countries: A single-center report from Brazil.

With the number of long-term HSCT survivors steadily increasing, attention needs to be focused on the late complications and quality of life. We therefore analyzed the outcome of 101 pediatric patients (<18years old at the time of HSCT) transplanted for acute leukemia between 1981 and 2015 at Complexo Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, and who survived at least two years after HSCT. The median follow-up was 5.9years (2.0-29.0); median age at follow-up was 17.5years (2.98-39.0). The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 27.5% (95% CI 18.6%-36.4%). Two-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 21.8% (95% CI 13.7%-29.8%). Of the 101 patients, 72 patients (71.3%) presented with late effects. Those surviving longer after HSCT experienced more complications. Patients who received TBI-based regimen developed more late effects (P=.013) and more endocrinological complications (P=.024). Endocrinological complications were the most common late sequelae found in this study. For childhood survivors, quality of life was not influenced by age (at HSCT or at last visit), time from HSCT, gender, donor, or GVHD. For survivors that no longer were children, only age at last visit impacted financial domain measures, irrespective of gender, donor, or GVHD. The current study confirms the high burden late complications after pediatric HSCT have on the survivors and underlines the importance of extended follow-up.

Childhood Leukemia Survivors and Metabolic Response to Exercise: A Pilot Controlled Study.

Background: Leukemia is the most common cancer in pediatrics, with many late effects such as higher risk of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The objective of this work was to investigate substrate oxidation during submaximal exercise in survivors of childhood acute leukemia. Methods: A total of 20 leukemia survivors and 20 healthy children were matched by sex, age, and Tanner stage. They all took a submaximal incremental exercise test to determine fat and carbohydrate oxidation rates. Results: Cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly lower in leukemia survivors, with lower relative VO2 peaks (p < 0.001), lower heart rate values (p = 0.02), and lower exercise power (p = 0.012), whereas rest metabolism and body mass index did not differ between the two groups. During exercise, upward of heart rate relative to VO2 peak was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in childhood leukemia survivors. We found lower carbohydrate and fat oxidation rates (p = 0.07) in leukemia survivors compared with healthy children, and also a significantly lower relative maximal fat oxidation rate (p = 0.014). Conclusion: Despite impaired physical fitness and metabolic response to exercise, childhood leukemia survivors remained sensitive to physical activity interventions, and could readily adapt to submaximal exercise intensity.

Lipodystrophy-like features after total body irradiation among survivors of childhood acute leukemia.

Background/objectiveThe number of long-term survivors of childhood acute leukemia (AL) is substantially growing. These patients are at high risk for metabolic syndrome (MS), especially those who received total body irradiation (TBI). The consequences of children’s irradiation on adipose tissue (AT) development in adulthood are currently unknown. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of TBI on AT of childhood AL survivors.DesignWe compared the morphological and functional characteristics of AT among survivors of childhood AL who developed MS and received (n = 12) or not received (n = 12) TBI.Subjects/methodsBody fat distribution and ectopic fat stores (abdominal visceral and liver fat) were evaluated by DEXA, MRI and 1H-spectroscopy. Functional characteristics of subcutaneous AT were investigated by studying gene expression and pre-adipocyte differentiation in culture.ResultsPatients who have received TBI exhibited a lower BMI (minus 5 kg/m2) and a lower waist circumference (minus 14 cm), especially irradiated women. Despite the lower quantity of intra-abdominal AT, irradiated patient displayed a nearly two-fold greater content of liver fat when compared to non-irradiated patient (17 vs 9%, P = 0.008). These lipodystrophic-like features are supplemented by molecular abnormalities in subcutaneous AT of irradiated patients: decrease of gene expression of SREBP1 (minus 39%, P = 0.01) and CIDEA (minus 36%, P = 0.004) and a clear alteration of pre-adipocyte differentiation.ConclusionsThese results strongly support the direct effect of irradiation on AT, especially in women, leading to specific nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, despite lower BMI. A long-term appropriate follow-up is necessary for these patients.

Body composition evaluation by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis in childhood acute leukemia survivors

Background: survivors of childhood acute leukemia are at risk for obesity. The purpose was to evaluate the different clinical measurements of body composition and to compare with body mass index (BMI). Methods: cross-sectional study of 39 survivors with more than ten years of survivorship since diagnosis. Anthropometry and body composition accuracy measurements were determined and also obesity risk factors. Results: obesity prevalence by body fat percentage were: 38.5% for BMI; 46.1% for waist circumference; 51.3% for skinfolds and 56.4% for bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). There was a good correlation among the measurements, but BMI underestimated the percent body fat among childhood leukemia survivors in comparison with: waist circumference (-1.03 ± 2.01), skinfolds (-2.95 ± 5.78) and BIA (-3.78 ± 7.4), and this bias appears to be more variable with increasing percent of body fat > 30%. Three patients showed sarcopenia and only one sarcopenic obesity. Waist circumference fat mass was the better predictor of cardiovascular risk factors (LDL-cholesterol: r = 0.703; HDL-cholesterol: r = -0.612; p < 0.05 and hypertension: OR 4.17; IC 95%: 1.012-19.3). Obesity risk factors were: female sex, high-risk tumor, radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Conclusions: BMI underestimates obese childhood leukemia survivors in comparison with waist circumference, skinfolds and bioelectrial impedance analysis. BMI use could misclassify obese survivors as non-obese. Female sex, high tumoral risk and coadyuvant treatments (radiotherapy and stem cell transplant) are risk factors for adiposity.

Echocardiographic evolution of left ventricular function in childhood leukemia survivors

BackgroundCardiac events are the most common nonmalignant cause of death in childhood cancer survivors. This population has an increased risk of morbimortality, probably secondary to the treatment side effects. The objective was to determine the prevalence and determinants of left ventricular dysfunction in a cohort of long term childhood acute leukemia survivors treated with potentially cardiotoxic therapies. MethodsRetrospective study with at least 10 years of follow-up, diagnosed between 1999 and 2003. The reduction percentage of the fractional shortening and ejection fraction was calculated from the diagnosis to the end of treatment and 10 years after the end of treatment. The factors associated with their decrease were analyzed. ResultsThe fractional shortening and ejection fraction experienced a significant decrease 10 years after the end of treatment from 38.16 to 32 and 69.08 to 60.79, respectively. Reduction was more pronounced during the evaluation of the first year after treatment (−10.3% and −8.96%, P <0.05). Associated with high tumor risk and adjuvant treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and total body radiation. No differences were found in the total anthracycline doses received. Patients with the greatest decrease had a lower age at the time of diagnosis (mean 5.7 ± 4.5 years), 62.5% (5/8) less at 5 years, and 75% received radiotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. ConclusionThere is already a significant decrease in the fractional shortening and ejection fraction during the first year after the end of the treatment, which is maintained 10 years after the end of treatment. Associated with high tumor risk and with total body radiation treatment and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Use of speckle tracking in the evaluation of late subclinical myocardial damage in survivors of childhood acute leukaemia.

Heart disease is the leading cause of non-cancer death in childhood cancer survivors. to determine the prevalence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction using speckle tracking and compare its results with those obtained by classical methods of assessing left ventricular function and its relationship with different factors to identify the population at higher risk. Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function included ejection fraction, tissue Doppler, longitudinal/circumferential strains and biochemical parameters (troponin-T and Pro-BNP) in a cohort of 57 survivors of childhood acute leukaemia with at least 10years since diagnosis. Ventricular dysfunction was found in 5.2% of patients in M-mode (ejection fraction-EF < 53% with a reduction in the EF ≥ 10%) and in 7% of patients with Simpson's method, compared with 21.05 and 8.8% with suboptimal global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global circumferential strain, respectively. The GLS alteration was significantly correlated with lower values of left ventricular systolic function and was associated with high tumour risk (odds ratio [OR] 13.8), cumulative doses of anthracyclines ≥ 250mg/m2 (OR 7.6) and radiotherapy (OR 7.19). Biomarkers were not useful for the diagnosis of subclinical cardiomyopathy. Good reproducibility was obtained, with an intraobserver correlation of 93.6% and an interobserver correlation of 89.2% in the GLS. The alteration of the GLS was more prevalent than the alteration in the EF and was associated with the treatment received and high tumour risk. strain imaging seems to be a powerful tool to identify an increased number of survivor with an early myocardial injury.

Metabolic Syndrome in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Acute Leukemia Treated without Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: An L.E.Α. Study

INTRODUCTIONAcute leukemia (AL) accounts for one third of childhood cancers. Cardiovascular conditions are serious long-term complications of childhood AL. However, few studies have investigated the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a known predictor of cardiovascular disease, in patients treated without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We describe the overall and age-specific prevalence, and risk factors for MetS and its components in the L.E.A. French cohort of childhood AL survivors treated without HSCT.METHODSL.E.A. is a long-term follow-up program involving all childhood AL survivors treated in the French participating centers since 1980 (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT 01756599). MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria revised in 2005.RESULTSThe study included 650 adult patients. The mean age at evaluation was 24.2 years and the mean follow-up after leukemia diagnosis was 16.0 years. Central nervous system (CNS) irradiation was performed in 18.0% of patients (n=117). The prevalence of MetS was 6.9% (95% CI 5.1-9.2). The age-specific cumulative prevalence at 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of age was 1.3%, 6.1%, 10.8% and 22.4%, respectively, as shown in the Figure. The prevalence of decreased HDL-cholesterol, increased triglycerides, increased fasting glucose, increased blood pressure and increased abdominal circumference was 26.8%, 11.7%, 5.8%, 36.7% and 16.7%, respectively.The risk factors significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in the multivariate analysis were male gender, older age at last evaluation and higher body mass index at diagnosis, as shown in the Table. Cumulative steroid dose was not a significant risk factor.CNS-irradiated and non-irradiated patients exhibited different patterns of metabolic abnormalities, with more frequent abdominal obesity in irradiated patients and more frequent hypertension in non-irradiated patients.DISCUSSIONOur study aimed to precisely describe the overall and age-specific prevalence, and risk factors of MetS in a large cohort of childhood AL survivors treated without HSCT. Notably, the subgroup treated with chemotherapy alone is one of the largest ever published, which is of particular interest as current protocols include very limited CNS irradiation indications.The prevalence of MetS was approximately two-fold higher than that observed in the adult French general population under 40 years of age. Moreover, the prevalence of MetS was found to increase markedly with age.An increased BMI at diagnosis was a risk factor for MetS. Children with an elevated BMI at diagnosis may have a genetic predisposition to metabolic disturbances or a socio-familial environment that renders them more vulnerable to metabolic complications.CNS irradiation was not found to be a risk factor for MetS. In the literature however, brain irradiation has been frequently reported as a risk factor for MetS. This variation with our study can probably be explained in part by the observation that our irradiated patients displayed a lower risk of elevated blood pressure along with a greater risk of increased abdominal circumference. The irradiated patients may therefore have a different metabolic risk profile compared with the non-irradiated patients, thereby suggesting varying mechanisms of pathogenesis.The results of our study confirm the need for early and prolonged follow-up of adult survivors of childhood AL even when treated without HSCT and without CNS irradiation. This prerequisite could enable both early detection of metabolic abnormalities and implementation of appropriate therapeutic procedures to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular complications in such patients. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.