Pilot study on the effect of supplementation with long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on body composition in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA-ω3), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might have beneficial effects on lean mass and fat mass synthesis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of LCPUFA-ω3 supplementation on body composition changes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at remission and three months (3 mo) after supplementation. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 72 children (3-13 y) with newly diagnosed ALL (placebo group [500 mg sunflower oil]: 36 patients; LCPUFA-ω3 group [225 mg DHA, 45 mg EPA]: 36 patients). LCPUFA-ω3 was administered at 0.100 g/kg of body weight/day for 3 mo. Both groups were provided with an oral milkshake supplement. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Body composition was measured at diagnosis, remission, and 3 months after supplementation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Red blood cell fatty acid analyses were performed with gas chromatography. Student's t test compared the percentage changes in body weight, total body fat percentage (TBFP), and lean body mass (LBM) between the groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the groups, and the Friedman range test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used for intratreatment comparisons. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for LBM and erythrocyte LCPUFA-ω3 content. RESULTS: LBM decreased significantly in both groups. This loss was greater in the placebo group than in the LCPUFA-ω3 group at remission (p = 0.044) and at 3 months of supplementation (p = 0.039). There were significant and progressive increases in DHA and EPA concentrations in the LCPUFA-ω3 group (p < 0.001). LBM at remission was directly correlated with increased DHA (r = 0.487, p = 0.034) and EPA (r = 0.499, p = 0.030) erythrocytes in the LCPUFA-ω3 group. CONCLUSION: At ALL diagnosis and during the first three months of treatment, 100 mg/kg of body weight/d DHA and EPA decreased LBM loss and allowed the incorporation of fatty acids into cell membranes (clinicaltriasl.gov #: NCT01051154).

[Leading causes of death during the induction therapy in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Principales causas de mortalidad durante la fase de inducción a la remisión en los pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoblástica aguda.

BACKGROUND: Leukemias are the leading cause of childhood cancer. In most developed countries 1-2% of patients die during remission induction; however, in developing countries, this figure is higher and the causes of death apparently vary among the populations studied. The aim was to determine the cause of death during remission induction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the hospital "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza" of Centro Médico Nacional La Raza from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2014. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out and a descriptive statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 463 patients with ALL were diagnosed, out of which 5.4% died (n = 25). Among the patients who died, 64% (n = 16) were female and 60% had high-risk clinical features at diagnosis. The main causes of death were septic shock and bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: Early mortality was five times higher than the one reported for developed countries, while the causes of death did not differ. Close monitoring is necessary to detect and promptly treat complications secondary to chemotherapy toxicity in Mexican pediatric patients with ALL.

Introducción: las leucemias son la principal causa de cáncer en la infancia. En la mayoría de países desarrollados fallecen entre 1 y 2% de los pacientes durante la inducción a la remisión; sin embargo, en países en vías de desarrollo, esta cifra al parecer es superior y las causas de muerte varían entre las poblaciones estudiadas. El objetivo fue determinar la causa de mortalidad durante la fase de inducción a la remisión en los pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoblástica aguda (LLA) en el Hospital General "Dr. Gaudencio González Garza" del Centro Médico Nacional La Raza del 1 de enero de 2009 al 31 de diciembre de 2014. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo y se utilizó estadística descriptiva. Resultados: se diagnosticaron un total de 463 pacientes con LLA durante el periodo de estudio, de los cuales falleció el 5.4% (n = 25). Entre los pacientes que fallecieron, el 64% (n = 16) eran del sexo femenino y el 60% tenía características clínicas de alto riesgo al momento del diagnóstico. Entre las principales causas de muerte estuvieron el choque séptico y las hemorragias. Conclusiones: la frecuencia de mortalidad temprana en los pacientes con LLA fue cinco veces más elevada que la reportada para países desarrollados, mientras que las causas de muerte no difieren. Se requiere de una vigilancia estrecha para detectar y tratar oportunamente las complicaciones secundarias a toxicidad por quimioterapia en pacientes pediátricos mexicanos con LLA.

Survival of Mexican children with acute myeloid leukaemia who received early intensification chemotherapy and an autologous transplant.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico and other developing countries, few reports of the survival of children with acute leukaemia exist. Objective. We aimed at comparing the disease-free survival of children with acute myeloid leukaemia who, in addition to being treated with the Latin American protocol of chemotherapy and an autologous transplant, either underwent early intensified chemotherapy or did not undergo such treatment. PROCEDURE: This was a cohort study with a historical control group, forty patients, less than 16 years old. Group A (20 patients), diagnosed in the period 2005-2007, was treated with the Latin American protocol of chemotherapy with an autologous transplant plus early intensified chemotherapy: high doses of cytarabine and mitoxantrone. Group B (20 patients), diagnosed in the period 1999-2004, was treated as Group A, but without the early intensified chemotherapy. RESULTS: Relapse-free survival for Group A was 90% whereas that for Group B it was 60% (P = 0.041). Overall survival for Group A (18, 90%) was higher than that for Group B (60%). Complete remission continued for two years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Relapse-free survival for paediatric patients treated with the Latin American protocol of chemotherapy with an autologous transplant plus early intensified chemotherapy was higher than that for those who did not receive early intensified chemotherapy.