Effectiveness of antibacterial prophylaxis during induction chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients receiving induction chemotherapy for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at high risk of developing life-threatening infections. We investigated whether uniform antibacterial guidelines, including mandatory antibacterial prophylaxis in afebrile patients during induction, decreases the incidence of microbiologically documented bacteremia. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2015, 230 patients with newly diagnosed ALL (aged 1-21) were enrolled on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium Protocol 11-001 (DFCI 11-001). Induction therapy, regardless of risk group, included vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin, methotrexate, and PEG-asparaginase. Afebrile patients received fluoroquinolone prophylaxis at the initiation of induction and those presenting with fever received broad-spectrum antibiotics; antibiotics were continued until blood count recovery. Rates of documented bacteremias and fungal infections on DFCI 11-001 were compared to those on the predecessor protocol (DFCI 05-001), which included the same induction phase without antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines. RESULTS: Sixty-six (28.7%) patients received fluoroquinolone prophylaxis, the remaining patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics. Twenty-four (36.4%) patients on prophylaxis developed fever and seven (10.6%) developed bacteremia. The overall rate of infection during induction on DFCI 11-001 was lower than on DFCl 05-001 (14.3% vs. 26.3%, P < 0.0001) due to a decreased rate of bacteremia (10.9% vs. 24.4%, P < 0.0001). The rate of fungal infections (4.8% vs. 3.6%) and induction death (0.9% vs. 2%) was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: For children with newly diagnosed ALL, uniform antibiotic administration until blood count recovery, including fluoroquinolone prophylaxis for afebrile patients, reduced the incidence of bacteremia during the induction phase. Larger, randomized studies should be performed to confirm these findings.

Polymorphisms of ABCC5 and NOS3 genes influence doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Anthracyclines are efficient chemotherapy agents. However, their use is limited by anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (CT). We investigated the influence of polymorphisms in doxorubicin metabolic and functional pathways on late-onset CT as estimated by echocardiography in 251 childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (cALL) patients. Association analyses revealed a modulating effect of two variants: A-1629 T in ABCC5, an ATP-binding cassette transporter, and G894T in the NOS3 endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene. Individuals with the ABCC5 TT-1629 genotype had an average of 8-12% reduction of ejection (EF) and shortening fractions (SF; EF: P<0.0001, and SF: P=0.001, respectively). A protective effect of the NOS3 TT894 genotype on EF was seen in high-risk patients (P=0.02), especially in those who did not receive dexrazoxane (P=0.002). Analysis of an additional cohort of 44 cALL patients replicated the ABCC5 association but was underpowered for NOS3. In summary, we identified two biomarkers that may contribute to cALL anthracycline CT risk stratification.

Role of CD81 and CD58 in minimal residual disease detection in pediatric B lymphoblastic leukemia.

INTRODUCTION: Minimal residual disease (MRD) in B lymphoblastic leukemia has been demonstrated to be a powerful predictor of clinical outcome in numerous studies in both children and adults. In this study, we evaluated 86 pediatric patients with both diagnostic and remission flow cytometry studies and compared expression of CD81, CD58, CD19, CD34, CD20, and CD38 in the detection of MRD. METHODS: We evaluated 86 patients with B lymphoblastic leukemia who had both diagnostic studies and remission studies for the presence of MRD using multicolor flow cytometry. We established our detection limit for identifying abnormal lymphoblasts using serial dilutions. We also compared flow cytometry findings with molecular MRD detection in a subset of patients. RESULTS: We found that we can resolve differences between hematogones and lymphoblasts in 85 of 86 cases using a combination of CD45, CD19, CD34, CD10, CD20, CD38, CD58, and CD81. Our detection limit using flow cytometry is 0.002% for detecting a population of abnormal B lymphoblasts. Comparison with MRD assessment by molecular methods showed a high concordance rate with flow cytometry findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights importance of using multiple markers to detect MRD in B lymphoblastic leukemia. Our findings indicate that including both CD58 and CD81 markers in addition to CD19, CD34, CD20, CD38, and CD10 are helpful in MRD detection by flow cytometry.

Subset derivation of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in man.

Normal human peripheral blood T cells can be characterized as belonging to either the TH+2 or TH-2 T-cell subset. Approximately 20% of T cells are TH+2, whereas 80% are TH-2 utilizing specific heteroantisera. To determine shether human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells belong to one or another T-cell subset, cell surface phenotyping was performed on tumor populations from 25 patients with T-ALL. Tmuor cells from these 25 individuals were either TH+1 or TH-2, but not both. 5 of 25 patients had TH+2 T-ALL cells. These TH+2 tumor populations were found exclusively in children and often without an accompanying thymic mass. TH-2 T-ALL, in contrast, occurred in both children and adults and was almost always associated with thymic enlargement. Although children with TH+2 T-ALL had as high or higher peripheral blast counts on presentation than their TH-2 T-ALL counterparts, overall survival was greater for the TH+2 group (greater than 36 mo) than the TH-2 group (less than 12 mo). These studies demonstrate that T-cell leukemias in man arise from distinct T-cell subsets and that cell surface characterization of T-cell malignancies may provide useful clinical data related to prognosis.

B cell origin of non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A model for discrete stages of neoplastic and normal pre-B cell differentiation.

The expression of B cell associated and restricted antigens on tumor cells isolated from 138 patients with non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (non-T cell ALL) was investigated by flow cytometric analysis by means of a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Tumor cells from these patients could be assigned to one of four subgroups: human leukocyte antigen-DR-related Ia-like antigens (Ia) alone (4%, stage I); IaB4 (14%, stage II); IaB4CALLA (33%, stage III); and IaB4CALLAB1 (49%, stage IV). The expression of B cell-restricted antigens (B4 and B1) and rearrangements of Ig heavy chain genes provided strong evidence for the B cell lineage of stages II, III, and IV tumors. The lineage of the Ia alone group is still unknown. The B4 antigen was expressed on approximately 95% of all non-T cell ALLs tested, and given its absence on T cell and myeloid tumors, it appears to be an exceptional marker to define cells of B lineage. The demonstration that Ia alone, IaB4, IaB4CALLA, and IaB4CALLAB1 positive cells can be readily identified by dual fluorescence analysis in normal fetal and adult bone marrow provided critical support for the view that these leukemic pre-B cell phenotypes were representative of the stages of normal pre-B cell differentiation. It was interesting that the IaB4+ cell was more frequently identified in fetal bone marrow than in adult marrow, whereas the predominant cell found in adult marrow expressed the IaB4CALLAB1 phenotype. These data suggest that the leukemogenic event may be random, since the predominant pre-B cell leukemic phenotype appears to correspond to the normal pre-B cell phenotype present in these hematopoietic organs. Our observations provide an additional distinction between adult and childhood ALL, since these studies show that most non-T cell ALLs seen in children less than 2 yr old are of stage II phenotype, whereas the majority of non-T ALLs in adults are of stage IV phenotype. Finally, it should be noted that the present study suggests that the analysis of leukemic B cell phenotypes and their normal counterparts can provide a mechanism for the investigation and orderly definition of stages of pre-B cell differentiation in man.

Induction of human B cell antigens in non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Leukemic cells from 70% of patients with Ia+CALLA+ non-T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) express an antigen (B1) found on all normal B lymphocytes. In this study, ALL cells that do not express the B1 antigen were studied in an attempt to further elucidate the cellular lineage of these tumors. Non-T cell ALL lines and tumor cells isolated from patients with non-T cell ALL that are Ia + CALLA + B1- were studied in vitro with a variety of agents known to promote cellular differentiation. Phorbol diester (TPA) or phytohemagglutinin conditioned leukocyte culture media were capable of inducing the expression of B1 on all four non-T cell ALL lines tested. In contrast, B1 could not be induced under the identical conditions on a promyelocytic leukemia line or a T cell lymphoblastic leukemia line. With the induction of B1 on non-T cell ALL lines, cytoplasmic mu-heavy chain (c mu) became undetectable, whereas the expression of CALLA and Ia were unchanged. The expression of B1 was accompanied by a decrease of cellular proliferation and DNA synthesis, but not significant morphologic changes were noted. In addition, no other B or T cell antigens were detected. The cellular origin of non-T cell ALL was further investigated using tumor cells isolated from leukemic patients. Tumor cells from eight patients with Ia + CALLA + B1-c mu- ALL could be induced in vitro with TPA to express both B1 and c mu. In contrast, cells from five patients with Ia + CALLA-B1-c mu- non-T cell ALL could not be induced with TPA to express CALLA, B1 or c mu. These studies suggest that the non-T cell ALL are heterogeneous and represent a spectrum of early B cell differentiation including the pre- pre-B cell (Ia + CALLA + B1-c mu-), the intermediate pre-B cell (Ia + CALLA +B1 + c mu-), and finally the "true" pre-B cell (Ia + CALLA + B1 + c mu+). The cellular origin of the remaining Ia + CALLA-B1-c mu- form of non-T cell ALL (20%) is still unknown.

Silencing of the tumor suppressor gene FHIT is highly characteristic for MLL gene rearranged infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

MLL rearranged acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MLL) is an aggressive type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diagnosed predominantly in infants (<1 years of age). Since current chemotherapy fails in >50% of patients with MLL, new therapeutic strategies are desperately needed. For this, understanding the biological features characterizing MLL is necessary. Analysis of gene expression profiles revealed that the expression of the tumor suppressor gene FHIT is reduced in children with MLL rearranged ALL as compared to ALL patients carrying germ line MLL. This finding was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. In 100% of the infant MLL cases tested, methylation of the FHIT 5'CpG region was observed, resulting in strongly reduced mRNA and protein expression. In contrast, FHIT methylation in infant and non-infant ALL patients carrying germ line MLL was found in only approximately 60% (P< or =0.004). FHIT expression was restored upon exposing leukemic cells to the demethylating agent decitabine, which induced apoptosis. Likewise and more specifically, leukemic cell death was induced by transfecting MLL rearranged leukemic cells with expression vectors encoding wild-type FHIT, confirming tumor suppressor activity of this gene. These observations imply that suppression of FHIT may be required for the development of MLL, and provide new insights into leukemogenesis and therapeutic possibilities for MLL.

Dynamic parameters of membrane lipids in normal and leukemic human lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood and bone marrow.

The degree of microviscosity (eta), and lipid fluidity (LFU) of cellular membranes of normal and leukemic lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood and bone marrow of normal donors and acute lymphatic leukemic (ALL) patients was quantitatively monitored by fluorescence polarization analysis with the aid of the fluorescent lipophilic probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene when embedded in cellular membranes of intact cells. The results have shown a marked decrease in eta and a significant increase in LFU in lymphocytes obtained from both peripheral blood and bone marrow of ALL patients at admission when compared to both T- and B-lymphocytes obtained from peripheral blood of normal donors. Moreover, both dynamic parameters, eta and LFU, show normal characteristic values in lymphocytes obtained from bone marrow of ALL patients in complete hematological remission. Since in few cases a decrease in eta and an increase in LFU were observed in bone marrow lymphocytes isolated from ALL patients in remission, the possibility that these dynamic parameters may serve as a diagnostic tool for an early detection of a new relapse is discussed.

Influence of intensive asparaginase in the treatment of childhood non-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Between June 1977 and December 1979, 72 evaluable patients with childhood non-T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia were induced into complete remission using vincristine, prednisone, and doxorubicin. All received asparaginase consolidation and central nervous system prophylaxis with cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate. All patients then received prolonged intensification with vincristine, prednisone, and doxorubicin, and half of them were randomized to receive weekly high-dose asparaginase. Continuation therapy was with vincristine, prednisone, methotrexate, and 6-mercaptopurine. After a median follow-up of 57 months, there were four remission deaths and 25 relapses. Central nervous system relapse was the first event in 4% of patients. There were fewer treatment failures in the asparaginase-treated group [2-sided, p = 0.04 (0.07 controlling for standard and high-risk groups)]. Asparaginase toxicity occurred in six patients (8%) and was self-limited, but it precluded further use of the drug in those patients. The major toxicity of this treatment program was drug-induced cardiomyopathy which occurred in 10 patients (14%) and was fatal in three of them. In summary, we conclude that the intensive use of high-dose asparaginase has an important role in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The morbidity of multiple doses of doxorubicin outweighed its antileukemic advantage in standard-risk patients.

Use of monoclonal antibodies as diagnostic and therapeutic reagents in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A monoclonal antibody specific for a common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) antigen has been generated and characterized. This antibody (J-5) is reactive with leukemic cells from most patients with non-T-cell ALL and some patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia in blast crisis. J-5 antibody is not reactive with leukemic cells from patients with either T-cell ALL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, or stable-phase chronic myelocytic leukemia. In addition to diagnostic applications, anti-common ALL antigen monoclonal antibody has been used to study the effect of specific serotherapy in the treatment of ALL. In the first patient with ALL treated with J-5 antibody, a 90% reduction in circulating lymphoblasts occurred within 1 hr of starting antibody infusion. Despite continued serotherapy, however, lymphoblasts persisted in peripheral blood and bone marrow. Analysis of cell surface markers during serotherapy suggested that resistance to antibody-mediated lysis in vivo may have been due to antigenic modulation of leukemic cells in response to J-5 monoclonal antibody.

In vitro and in vivo killing of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by L-asparaginase.

L-Asparaginase (ASNase) is a potent antileukemic enzyme routinely used in the treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As part of investigations of the biological activity of ASNase, we have developed techniques which measure the in vitro and in vivo cell killing ability of ASNase. To study the effect of ASNase on in vitro survival of primary lymphoblasts, bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained from untreated patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were cultured with and without ASNase. After 5 days, viable cells were counted using trypan blue exclusion to calculate total cell kill due to ASNase. Propidium iodide exclusion, leukemia cell surface antigens, and flow cytometry were used to determine leukemia cell kill due to ASNase. Comparison of leukemia cell kill and total cell kill showed a direct linear relationship (n = 24, r = 0.7), preferential killing of leukemia cells by ASNase (slope = 0.66), and that use of leukemia cell surface markers yielded a more accurate measurement of leukemia cell killing. ASNase at concentrations from 0.0001 to 0.1 IU/ml had equal effects on extent of leukemia cell killing (P = 0.3 to 0.7), suggesting the absence of a dose response at the ASNase concentrations tested. As a measure of the in vivo response to ASNase treatment, the number of viable bone marrow leukemia cells in the patient prior to and 5 days after treatment with ASNase was measured as the product of (% of rhodamine 123 fluorescent [viable] cells) x (absolute leukemic infiltrate). The change which occurred in the viable leukemic infiltrate was the same for patients whether they received 25,000 or 2,500 IU/m2 of ASNase as a single drug. There was a linear correlation (n = 8, r = 0.9) between in vivo and in vitro leukemia cell killing by ASNase. Thus, the in vitro assay described here can be used to predict in vivo sensitivity to ASNase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Elimination of leukemic cells from human bone marrow using monoclonal antibody and complement.

Human leukemic cells which bear the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen can be lysed with a murine monoclonal antibody (J-5) in the presence of rabbit complement. Conditions have been defined for eliminating 51Cr-labeled common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen-positive NALM-1 cells or cryopreserved leukemic lymphoblasts from a 100-fold excess of human bone marrow. Optimal lysis is obtained with treatment for a total of 90 min. Three treatments for 30 min are more effective than two treatments for 45 min or one treatment for 90 min. Separation of marrow on a Ficoll:diatrizoate gradient does not permit more effective elimination of leukemic cells. Tumor cell lysis is inhibited by high concentrations of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen-positive cells (2 X 10(7)/ml) and by high concentrations of bone marrow (10(8)/ml). Under optimal conditions, greater than 99% of 51Cr-labeled leukemic lymphoblasts can be eliminated from a 100-fold excess of human marrow. Selective removal of leukemic cells from human bone marrow in vitro should facilitate trials of autologous marrow transplantation.

Phase I study of 2'-deoxycoformycin in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

2'-Deoxycoformycin (2'-dCF), a tight-binding inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, was administered to 26 pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Phase I study. Doses ranged from 0.25 to 1.0 mg/kg given i.v. for 3 consecutive days. Common toxicity included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hepatocellular enzyme elevations, and conjunctivitis. Lymphopenia occurred in all patients. The most serious adverse effects were acute tubular necrosis and central nervous system toxicity, which appeared to be dose related. In addition, two patients given the 0.75-mg/kg dose developed severe hepatic toxicity, although this could not be ascribed definitively to 2'-dCF. Antitumor activity was observed in eight patients, two of whom experienced a complete remission. Inhibition of lymphoblast adenosine deaminase activity was noted in the majority of cases and was observed at all doses. Antileukemic activity occurred at doses of 2'-dCF which were not associated with limiting toxicities. These results suggest that 2'-dCF is active against acute lymphoblastic leukemia and that a starting dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day be utilized in Phase II studies.

Pediatric phase I trial and pharmacokinetic study of tiazofurin (NSC 286193).

Tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide), a new nucleoside antimetabolite, was evaluated in a phase I trial involving children with refractory cancers. The drug was administered i.v. as a 10-min infusion daily for 5 consecutive days repeated at 3-week intervals. The dose ranged from 550 to 3300 mg/sq m/day. Seventeen patients received 23 courses and were evaluable for toxicity. The maximally tolerated dose was 2200 mg/sq m/day. The major dose-limiting toxicities were nonhematological. Neurotoxicity, including headache, drowsiness, and irritability, was common and was the principal dose-limiting toxicity at the higher doses. Severe myalgias were also dose limiting in one patient. Other side effects were mild, reversible elevations in serum transaminases; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; mild hypertension; dysphagia; and exfoliative dermatitis of the hands and feet. Myelotoxicity was not significant. The pharmacokinetics of tiazofurin was studied in 16 patients. Plasma disappearance was triphasic with half-lives of 9.7 min, 1.6 h, and 5.5 h. Clearance was dose related, ranging from 120 ml/min/sq m at 550 mg/sq m/day to 70 ml/min/sq m at 3300 mg/sq m/day. The primary route of elimination was renal with 85% of the drug recoverable in the urine as the parent compound in the 24 h following administration.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type III infection in previously immunocompromised hosts.

The human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) is the primary etiologic agent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HTLV-III infection in patients with prior underlying immune deficiency states such as cancer has not yet been studied. We report on the occurrence of clinically atypical opportunistic infections in previously immunocompromised patients that resulted from transfusion-acquired HTLV-III infection. Development of unusual infectious diseases in patients with neoplasms and other underlying immune deficiency disorders should lead to consideration of HTLV-III infection. Surveillance data should be obtained on these patients to accurately define the scope of HTLV-III infection.

The relationship of sex and treatment modality to neuropsychologic outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

PURPOSE: Long-term adverse neurobehavioral sequelae frequently are observed in pediatric patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To clarify the relative contribution of cranial irradiation (CRT) therapy and drug therapy to these outcomes, we evaluated neuropsychologic outcomes associated with different doses of CRT and intravenous (IV) methotrexate (MTX) in long-term survivors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients treated for ALL on Dana-Farber Cancer Institute protocol 81-01 were evaluated by standardized cognitive and academic achievement tests. These children had been assigned at diagnosis to a standard-risk (SR) or high-risk (HR) group and received 1,800 cGy or 2,800 cGy CRT, respectively. A subgroup of these patients was randomized to receive MTX during remission induction, either as a single low dose (LD; 40 mg/m2) or a single high dose (HD; 4 g/m2) with leucovorin rescue. RESULTS: Sex and MTX randomization jointly predicted the intelligence quotient (IQ). Fifty percent of girls versus 14% of boys exhibited low IQ (less than 90; P = .01); 80% of girls who received HD MTX versus 25% of girls who received LD MTX exhibited low IQ (P = .03). In contrast, risk group better predicted performance on tasks sensitive to verbal memory and/or coding. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that (1) significant neurotoxicity occurred principally in girls; (2) increased dose intensity of IV MTX was associated with lower IQ, but only in girls; and (3) increased dose of CRT may have been associated with impairment of verbal memory and coding.

Hypertension in long-term survivors of childhood renal cancers.

The prevalence of hypertension was investigated in 119 adults who have survived for up to 53 years following the diagnosis of renal cancer in childhood (Wilms' tumor, 116 patients; renal carcinoma, three patients). Twenty-four (20%) have developed definite or borderline hypertension, as compared with 18.1 cases expected based on US population rates (relative risk [RR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9 to 2.0; P = .20). This nonsignificant excess is due to the heightened prevalence of definite hypertension among one subgroup of male patients. The findings are not explained by cigarette smoking, obesity, age, and stage at diagnosis of Wilms' tumor, or family history of hypertension. A case-comparison analysis within the cohort showed no consistent hypertensive effect associated with radiation therapy dose, radiotherapy concurrent with dactinomycin chemotherapy, or extent of renal surgery. Hypertension is not a common late complication of Wilms' tumor in our patients.

Neuroblastoma: the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Children's Hospital experience.

The treatment results for 118 patients with neuroblastoma seen at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Children's Hospital from 1970 to 1980 were analyzed. Patients were treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy depending on stage and age. Disease-free survival was excellent in all patient groups except those over one year of age with stage IV disease, a group for which currently available therapy cures only a small proportion of patients. Patients with stage III disease and older patients with stage II disease did extremely well (survival of 81% and 89%, respectively) and may have benefited from intensive treatment with all three modalities. Survival for infants (under one year) with stage IV neuroblastoma (90%) has clearly improved with intensive combination chemotherapy. With combination approaches and newer, more effective systemic regimens, a real impact on survival appears to have been made in the last decade. Better approaches will be necessary to cure more than an occasional older patient with stage IV disease.

Improved prognosis for infants with stage IV neuroblastoma.

From 1970 to 1982 11 infants with Evans stage IV neuroblastoma who were 11 months of age or less at diagnosis were treated. All but one were treated with intensive multiagent chemotherapy; eight had attempted surgical resection; only one received radiotherapy to the primary tumor. Ten of the 11 infants remain free of disease from 2 1/2 to 13 years (median, four years). Multiagent chemotherapy has clearly improved the outcome for infants with stage IV neuroblastoma.