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.

Treatment with interferon-alpha-2b in children with life-threatening hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND: Childhood hemangiomas are benign tumors of endothelial cells, characterized by a rapidly proliferating initial phase and followed by a slow involution. However, some grow and may reach a massive size, threatening a patient's functions or life. These require immediate medical treatment. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the therapeutic effectiveness of interferon (IFN)-alpha-2b in children with hemangiomas threatening the patient's functions or life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were treated with IFN-alpha-2b at a dosage of 3 million U/m(2) corporal surface, applied subcutaneously, 5 days a week for the first 6 months and subsequently three times a week for 6 to 24 months. RESULTS The study included 20 patients with hemangiomas localized in different sites and with diverse functional alterations: ages varied between 3 and 48 months (median, 12.8 months), and 8 were male and 12 female. An excellent response was observed in 17 (85%) patients. Side effects were slight and transitory; there was a follow-up from 7 to 10 years, and no late toxicity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that IFN-alpha-2b is an effective option for treating alarming hemangiomas that are resistant to steroids and that endanger proper functioning of the affected organ or the patient's life.