Phase II study of clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy and safety of clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Patients And Methods: A phase II, open-label, multicenter study was conducted with single-agent clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed AML. Clofarabine was administered intravenously over 2 hours at the pediatric maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of 52 mg/m(2) daily for 5 consecutive days.

Guidelines for the management of pediatric and adult tumor lysis syndrome: an evidence-based review.

Purpose: Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) has recently been subclassified into either laboratory TLS or clinical TLS, and a grading system has been established. Standardized guidelines, however, are needed to aid in the stratification of patients according to risk and to establish prophylaxis and treatment recommendations for patients at risk or with established TLS.

Methods: A panel of experts in pediatric and adult hematologic malignancies and TLS was assembled to develop recommendations and guidelines for TLS based on clinical evidence and standards of care.

Unique pattern of nuclear TdT immunofluorescence distinguishes normal precursor B cells (Hematogones) from lymphoblasts of precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia.

Normal precursor B cells or hematogones share morphologic and immunophenotypic similarities with lymphoblasts of precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia. The numbers are often increased and difficult to distinguish in many patients following chemotherapy for precursor B-lymphoblastic leukemia. The purpose of this study was to establish a unique method for differentiating hematogones from lymphoblasts by evaluating the immunofluorescence pattern of nuclear terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) staining in 29 cases of TdT+ acute leukemia and 20 cases with increased numbers of hematogones.

Antimicrobials, mucosal coating agents, anesthetics, analgesics, and nutritional supplements for alimentary tract mucositis.

This review focuses on the value of several groups of agents for the prevention and treatment of mucositis. The review refers to alimentary mucositis as a generalized term that includes oral mucositis and gastrointestinal mucositis. This paper is part of the systematic review made by the mucositis study group which operates in the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)/International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO).

Bone marrow transplantation versus prolonged intensive chemotherapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and an initial bone marrow relapse within 12 months of the completion of primary therapy: Children's Oncology Group study CCG-1941.

Purpose: To compare conventional sibling bone marrow transplantation (CBMT), BMT with alternative donor (ABMT), and chemotherapy (CT) for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and an early first marrow relapse.

Patients And Methods: After informed consent, 214 patients with ALL and early marrow relapse began multiagent induction therapy. One hundred sixty-three patients with fewer than 25% marrow blasts and count recovery at the end of induction (second remission [CR2]) were allocated by donor availability.

Phase II study of clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of clofarabine, a novel deoxyadenosine analog, in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Patients And Methods: In a phase II, open-label, multicenter study, 61 pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed ALL received clofarabine 52 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours daily for 5 days, every 2 to 6 weeks. The median age was 12 years (range, 1 to 20 years), and the median number of prior regimens was three (range, two to six regimens).

Asparagine depletion after pegylated E. coli asparaginase treatment and induction outcome in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first bone marrow relapse: a Children's Oncology Group study (CCG-1941).

Purpose: Re-induction outcomes vary for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and marrow relapse. We explored possible relationships among asparaginase (ASNase) activity levels, asparagine (ASN) depletion, anti-ASNase antibody titers, and response to re-induction therapy in children and adolescents with ALL and an 'early' first marrow relapse.

Patients And Methods: After appropriate informed consent, we enrolled children and adolescents 1-21 years old with ALL and first marrow relapse within 12 months of completion of primary therapy.

Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Children's Cancer Group Study.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on hematopoietic toxicities, supportive care requirements, time to complete intensive therapy, and event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR-ALL).

Patients And Methods: A total of 287 children with HR-ALL were randomly assigned to intensive chemotherapy regimens (New York I [NY I] or NY II) as part of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG)-1901 protocol. The induction phases consisted of five drugs (vincristine, prednisone, l-asparaginase, daunorubicin, and cyclophosphamide).

A novel mutation in exon 5 of the ALAS2 gene results in X-linked sideroblastic anemia.

Background: Mutations in the erythroid-specific 5-aminolevulinate-synthase gene (ALAS2) have been identified in many cases of X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA).

Methods: A polymerase chain reaction-mediated restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay was used.

Results: A G527T point mutation was identified.