scholarly journals Cytogenetic features of infants less than 12 months of age at diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: impact of the 11q23 breakpoint on outcome: a report of the Childrens Cancer Group

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 2274-2284 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Heerema ◽  
DC Arthur ◽  
H Sather ◽  
V Albo ◽  
J Feusner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Structural Abnormality ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Structural Abnormalities ◽  
Cytogenetic Analyses

Abstract Cytogenetic analyses of pretreatment bone marrows were performed at local institutions as part of Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) protocol CCG- 107 for infants less than 1 year of age with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cytogenetic analyses from 39 patients (17 males and 22 females) were accepted after review. Several unique cytogenetic features were observed. Twelve patients (31%) had a t(4;11)(q21;q23) and had a significantly shorter event-free survival (EFS) than did the other patients with adequate cytogenetic analyses (P = .009). Five additional patients had an 11q23 breakpoint, not associated with 4q21. When EFS for these 5 patients was compared with that of the t(4;11) patients, even with these small numbers there was a strong, although not significant, suggestion that the t(4;11) patients have a reduced EFS (P = .09), indicating that the specific translocation, t(4;11)(q21;q23), and not an 11q23 breakpoint per se, may be associated with the poor prognosis of these infants. Structural abnormalities were present in 27 of 28 patients with abnormal karyotypes. A new recurring abnormality, t(5;15)(p15:1;q11) or t(5;15)(p15.3;q13), was identified in 3 patients (Arthur et al, Blood 70:274a, 1987 [abstr, suppl 1]). Two females had structural abnormalities involving Xp11, a breakpoint rarely seen in ALL. Fourteen (36%) patients had a single structural abnormality, and 13 (33%) had complex karyotypes. No patients had hyperdiploidy with more than 50 chromosomes. Only normal chromosomes were observed in 11 patients (28%), and their outcome did not differ from patients with abnormal karyotypes. These cytogenetic abnormalities found in the leukemic cells of infants are clearly different from those in older children and adults, and may explain, in part, the unique biologic characteristics of infant ALL.

scholarly journals Cytogenetic features of infants less than 12 months of age at diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: impact of the 11q23 breakpoint on outcome: a report of the Childrens Cancer Group

Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (8) ◽  
pp. 2274-2284 ◽  
Author(s):  
NA Heerema ◽  
DC Arthur ◽  
H Sather ◽  
V Albo ◽  
J Feusner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Structural Abnormality ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Structural Abnormalities ◽  
Cytogenetic Analyses

Cytogenetic analyses of pretreatment bone marrows were performed at local institutions as part of Childrens Cancer Group (CCG) protocol CCG- 107 for infants less than 1 year of age with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Cytogenetic analyses from 39 patients (17 males and 22 females) were accepted after review. Several unique cytogenetic features were observed. Twelve patients (31%) had a t(4;11)(q21;q23) and had a significantly shorter event-free survival (EFS) than did the other patients with adequate cytogenetic analyses (P = .009). Five additional patients had an 11q23 breakpoint, not associated with 4q21. When EFS for these 5 patients was compared with that of the t(4;11) patients, even with these small numbers there was a strong, although not significant, suggestion that the t(4;11) patients have a reduced EFS (P = .09), indicating that the specific translocation, t(4;11)(q21;q23), and not an 11q23 breakpoint per se, may be associated with the poor prognosis of these infants. Structural abnormalities were present in 27 of 28 patients with abnormal karyotypes. A new recurring abnormality, t(5;15)(p15:1;q11) or t(5;15)(p15.3;q13), was identified in 3 patients (Arthur et al, Blood 70:274a, 1987 [abstr, suppl 1]). Two females had structural abnormalities involving Xp11, a breakpoint rarely seen in ALL. Fourteen (36%) patients had a single structural abnormality, and 13 (33%) had complex karyotypes. No patients had hyperdiploidy with more than 50 chromosomes. Only normal chromosomes were observed in 11 patients (28%), and their outcome did not differ from patients with abnormal karyotypes. These cytogenetic abnormalities found in the leukemic cells of infants are clearly different from those in older children and adults, and may explain, in part, the unique biologic characteristics of infant ALL.

scholarly journals CD2 antigen expression on leukemic cells as a predictor of event-free survival after chemotherapy for T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Children's Cancer Group study

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 4288-4295 ◽  
Author(s):  
FM Uckun ◽  
PG Steinherz ◽  
H Sather ◽  
M Trigg ◽  
D Arthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Antigen Expression ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Standard Risk

Abstract We examined the prognostic impact of CD2 antigen expression for 651 patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who were enrolled in front-line Childrens Cancer Group treatment studies between 1983 and 1994. There was a statistically significant correlation between the CD2 antigen positive leukemic cell content of bone marrow and probability of remaining in bone marrow remission, as well as overall event-free survival (EFS) (P = .0003 and P = .002, log-rank tests for linear trend). When compared with patients with the highest CD2 expression level (> 75% positivity), the life table relative event rate (RER) was 1.22 for patients with intermediate range CD2 expression level (30% to 75% positivity) and 1.81 for “CD2-negative” patients (< 30% positivity). At 6 years postdiagnosis, the EFS estimates for the three CD2 expression groups (low positivity to high positivity) were 52.8%, 65.5%, and 71.9%, respectively. CD2 expression remained a significant predictor of EFS after adjustment for the effects of other covariates by multivariate regression, with a RER of 1.47 for CD2- negative patients (P = .04). Analysis of T-lineage ALL patients shows a significant separation in EFS after adjustment for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) age and white blood cell (WBC) criteria for standard and high-risk ALL (P = .002, RER = 1.67). The determination of CD2 expression on leukemic cells helped identify patients with the better and poorer prognoses in both of these risk group subsets. For standard risk T-lineage ALL, CD2-negative patients had a worse outcome (P = .0007, RER = 2.92) with an estimated 5-year EFS of 55.9% as compared with 78.3% for the CD2-positive patients. Thus, CD2 negativity in standard risk T-lineage ALL identified a group of patients who had a worse outcome than high-risk T-lineage ALL patients who were CD2 positive. The percentage of CD2 antigen positive leukemic cells from T- lineage ALL patients is a powerful predictor of EFS after chemotherapy. This prognostic relationship is the first instance in which a biological marker in T-lineage ALL has been unequivocally linked to treatment outcome.

scholarly journals CD2 antigen expression on leukemic cells as a predictor of event-free survival after chemotherapy for T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a Children's Cancer Group study

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 4288-4295 ◽  
Author(s):  
FM Uckun ◽  
PG Steinherz ◽  
H Sather ◽  
M Trigg ◽  
D Arthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Antigen Expression ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Standard Risk

We examined the prognostic impact of CD2 antigen expression for 651 patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who were enrolled in front-line Childrens Cancer Group treatment studies between 1983 and 1994. There was a statistically significant correlation between the CD2 antigen positive leukemic cell content of bone marrow and probability of remaining in bone marrow remission, as well as overall event-free survival (EFS) (P = .0003 and P = .002, log-rank tests for linear trend). When compared with patients with the highest CD2 expression level (> 75% positivity), the life table relative event rate (RER) was 1.22 for patients with intermediate range CD2 expression level (30% to 75% positivity) and 1.81 for “CD2-negative” patients (< 30% positivity). At 6 years postdiagnosis, the EFS estimates for the three CD2 expression groups (low positivity to high positivity) were 52.8%, 65.5%, and 71.9%, respectively. CD2 expression remained a significant predictor of EFS after adjustment for the effects of other covariates by multivariate regression, with a RER of 1.47 for CD2- negative patients (P = .04). Analysis of T-lineage ALL patients shows a significant separation in EFS after adjustment for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) age and white blood cell (WBC) criteria for standard and high-risk ALL (P = .002, RER = 1.67). The determination of CD2 expression on leukemic cells helped identify patients with the better and poorer prognoses in both of these risk group subsets. For standard risk T-lineage ALL, CD2-negative patients had a worse outcome (P = .0007, RER = 2.92) with an estimated 5-year EFS of 55.9% as compared with 78.3% for the CD2-positive patients. Thus, CD2 negativity in standard risk T-lineage ALL identified a group of patients who had a worse outcome than high-risk T-lineage ALL patients who were CD2 positive. The percentage of CD2 antigen positive leukemic cells from T- lineage ALL patients is a powerful predictor of EFS after chemotherapy. This prognostic relationship is the first instance in which a biological marker in T-lineage ALL has been unequivocally linked to treatment outcome.

Clinical significance of translocation t(1;19) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the context of contemporary therapies: a report from the Children's Cancer Group.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
F M Uckun ◽  
M G Sensel ◽  
H N Sather ◽  
P S Gaynon ◽  
D C Arthur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
B Lineage ◽  
The Individual

PURPOSE The nonrandom translocation t(1;19) has been associated with poor outcome in pediatric B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Because most patients treated by contemporary therapies now achieve improved outcomes, we have reassessed the prognostic significance of t(1;19). PATIENTS AND METHODS Cytogenetic data were accepted for 1,322 children (<21 years old) with newly diagnosed ALL enrolled between 1988 and 1994 on risk-adjusted studies of the Children's Cancer Group (CCG). Forty-seven patients (3.6%) were t(1;19) positive (+); 1,275 (96.4%) were t(1;19) negative (-). Clinical characteristics and treatment outcome were compared using standard methods. RESULTS Translocation (1;19)+ patients were more likely than t(1;19)- patients to be 10 years of age or greater (P < .001) or CD10+ CD19+ CD34- (P < .0001), or nonwhite (P = .02). Patients with a balanced t(1;19) were less likely to be hyperdiploid than patients with an unbalanced der(19)t(1;19). Event-free survival (EFS) was similar for the overall group of t(1;19)+ and t(1;19)- patients, with 4-year estimates of 69.5% (SD, 6.8%) and 74.8% (SD, 1.3%; P = .48), respectively. However, patients with unbalanced der(19)t(1;19) had significantly better outcomes than patients with balanced t(1;19): 4-year EFS were 80.6% (SD, 7.1%) and 41.7% (SD, 13.5%), respectively (P = .003). These differences were maintained within the individual studies analyses and after exclusion of t(1;19)+ patients whose cells were hyperdiploid with more than 50 chromosomes. CONCLUSION The overall group of t(1;19)+ patients, as well as the subgroup with an unbalanced der(19)+ (1;19) had outcomes similar to that of t(1;19)- patients, whereas patients with balanced t(1;19) had poorer outcomes. Thus, although the overall prognostic significance of t(1;19) has been obviated by contemporary risk-adjusted protocols, the balanced t(1;19) translocation remains an adverse prognostic factor.

Treatment Outcome and Prognostic Factors for Infants With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated on Two Consecutive Trials of the Children's Cancer Group

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory H. Reaman ◽  
Richard Sposto ◽  
Martha G. Sensel ◽  
Beverly J. Lange ◽  
James H. Feusner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Prognostic Factors ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Induction Therapy ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Historical Controls

PURPOSE: Infants represent a very poor risk group for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report treatment outcome for such patients treated with intensive therapy on consecutive Children's Cancer Group (CCG) protocols. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1984 and 1993, infants with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled onto CCG-107 (n = 99) and CCG-1883 (n = 135) protocols. Postconsolidation therapy was more intensive on CCG-1883. On both studies, prophylactic treatment of the CNS included both high-dose systemic chemotherapy and intrathecal therapy, in contrast to whole-brain radiotherapy, which was used in earlier studies. RESULTS: Most patients (> 95%) achieved remission with induction therapy. The most frequent event was a marrow relapse (46 patients on CCG-107 and 66 patients on CCG-1883). Four-year event-free survival was 33% (SE = 4.7%) on CCG-107 and 39% (SE = 4.2%) on CCG-1883. Both studies represent an improvement compared with a 22% (SE = 5.1%) event-free survival for historical controls. Four-year cumulative probabilities of any marrow relapse or an isolated CNS relapse were, respectively, 49% (SE = 5%) and 9% (SE = 3%) on CCG-107 and 50% (SE = 5%) and 3% (SE = 2%) on CCG-1883, compared with 63% (SE = 6%) and 5% (SE = 3%) for the historical controls. Independent adverse prognostic factors were age less than 3 months, WBC count of more than 50,000/μL, CD10 negativity, slow response to induction therapy, and presence of the translocation t(4;11). CONCLUSION: Outcome for infants on CCG-107 and CCG-1883 improved, compared with historical controls. Marrow relapse remains the primary mode of failure. Isolated CNS relapse rates are low, indicating that intrathecal chemotherapy combined with very-high-dose systemic therapy provides adequate protection of the CNS. The overall unsatisfactory outcome observed for the infant ALL population warrants the future use of novel alternative therapies.

Obesity and Outcome in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (15) ◽  
pp. 2063-2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Butturini ◽  
Frederick J. Dorey ◽  
Beverly J. Lange ◽  
David W. Henry ◽  
Paul S. Gaynon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Prognostic Variables ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Hazard Ratios ◽  
Nonobese Patients

PurposeTo evaluate the effect of obesity (defined as a body mass index > 95th percentile for age and sex at diagnosis) on outcome of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data from 4,260 patients with newly diagnosed ALL enrolled from 1988 to 1995 onto five concurrent Children's Cancer Group studies. Results were verified in a second cohort of 1,733 patients enrolled onto a sixth study from 1996 to 2002.ResultsThe 1988 to 1995 cohort included 343 obese and 3,971 nonobese patients. The 5-year event-free survival rate and risk of relapse in obese versus nonobese patients were 72% ± 2.4% v 77% ± 0.6% (P = .02) and 26 ± 2.4 v 20 ± 0.6 (P = .02), respectively. After adjusting for other prognostic variables, obesity's hazard ratios (HRs) of events and relapses were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.77; P = .021) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.56; P = .04), respectively. The effect of obesity was prominent in the 1,003 patients ≥ 10 years old at diagnosis; in this subset, obesity's adjusted HRs of events and relapses were 1.5 (95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1; P = .009) and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2 to 2.1; P = .013), respectively. In a second cohort of 1,160 patients ≥ 10 years old, obesity's adjusted HRs of events and relapses were 1.42 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.96; P = .032) and 1.65 (95% CI, 1.13 to 2.41; P = .009), respectively. The effect of obesity on outcome was unrelated to changes in chemotherapy doses, length of intervals between chemotherapy cycles, or incidence and severity of therapy-related toxicity.ConclusionObesity at diagnosis independently predicts likelihood of relapse and cure in preteenagers and adolescents with ALL.

Augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster therapy abrogates the adverse prognostic significance of slow early response to induction chemotherapy for children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and unfavorable presenting features: a report from the Children's Cancer Group.

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 2222-2230 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Nachman ◽  
H N Sather ◽  
P S Gaynon ◽  
J N Lukens ◽  
L Wolff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Prognostic Significance ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Intensive Chemotherapy ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Avascular Necrosis Of Bone

PURPOSE Compared with previous Children's Cancer Group (CCG) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) trials, therapy based on the Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (BFM) 76 trial has effected an improvement in event-free survival (EFS). In an attempt to improve EFS further, CCG investigators formulated an augmented BFM (A-BFM) regimen that provides prolonged, intensified postinduction chemotherapy relative to the CCG-modified BFM regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS We tested A-BFM in 101 patients with ALL and unfavorable presenting features that showed slow early response (SER) to induction therapy who attained remission on day 28. Their outcome was compared with that of 251 concurrent patients with unfavorable presenting features, a rapid early response to therapy (RER), and remission by day 28, treated with CCG-BFM with or without cranial radiation (CRT). RESULTS The 4-year EFS rate from the end of induction for SER patients treated with A-BFM was 70.8% +/- 4.6%. Seventeen patients remain in continuous remission beyond 5 years. Vincristine (VCR) neurotoxicity developed in 50% of patients, but was rarely debilitating. Allergies to Escherichia coli L-asparaginase (L-ASP) occurred in 35% of patients. Avascular necrosis of bone (AVN) developed in 9% of patients. In comparison, a concurrent RER group treated with standard BFM +/- CRT had a 4-year EFS rate of 73.1% +/- 4.6%. CONCLUSION The toxicity of A-BFM is significant, but acceptable. Compared with historical control SER patients treated with CCG-modified BFM, A-BFM therapy appears to produce a significant improvement in EFS. This is the first study to show that intensive chemotherapy, as given in the A-BFM regimen, can abrogate the adverse prognostic significance of SER.

scholarly journals Cellular Expression of Antiapoptotic BCL-2 Oncoprotein in Newly Diagnosed Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children's Cancer Group Study

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 3769-3777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih M. Uckun ◽  
Zhiwen Yang ◽  
Harland Sather ◽  
Peter Steinherz ◽  
James Nachman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Childhood All ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cellular Expression

Abstract We found a marked variation in BCL-2 oncoprotein expression levels of primary leukemic cells from 338 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). None of the high-risk features predictive of poor treatment outcome in childhood ALL, such as older age, high white blood cell (WBC) count, organomegaly, T-lineage immunophenotype, ability of leukemic cells to cause overt leukemia in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, presence of MLL-AF4, and BCR-ABL fusion transcripts were associated with high levels of BCL-2 expression. Overall, high BCL-2 levels were not associated with slow early response, failure to achieve complete remission, or poor event-free survival. High BCL-2 levels in primary leukemic cells predicted slow early response only in T-lineage ALL patients, which comprised approximately 15% of the total patient population. Even for this small subset of patients, the level of BCL-2 expression did not have a significant impact on the short-term event-free survival.

scholarly journals Cellular Expression of Antiapoptotic BCL-2 Oncoprotein in Newly Diagnosed Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Children's Cancer Group Study

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (10) ◽  
pp. 3769-3777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatih M. Uckun ◽  
Zhiwen Yang ◽  
Harland Sather ◽  
Peter Steinherz ◽  
James Nachman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Childhood All ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cellular Expression

We found a marked variation in BCL-2 oncoprotein expression levels of primary leukemic cells from 338 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). None of the high-risk features predictive of poor treatment outcome in childhood ALL, such as older age, high white blood cell (WBC) count, organomegaly, T-lineage immunophenotype, ability of leukemic cells to cause overt leukemia in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, presence of MLL-AF4, and BCR-ABL fusion transcripts were associated with high levels of BCL-2 expression. Overall, high BCL-2 levels were not associated with slow early response, failure to achieve complete remission, or poor event-free survival. High BCL-2 levels in primary leukemic cells predicted slow early response only in T-lineage ALL patients, which comprised approximately 15% of the total patient population. Even for this small subset of patients, the level of BCL-2 expression did not have a significant impact on the short-term event-free survival.

scholarly journals Escalating intravenous methotrexate improves event-free survival in children with standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousif Matloub ◽  
Bruce C. Bostrom ◽  
Stephen P. Hunger ◽  
Linda C. Stork ◽  
Anne Angiolillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
Oncology Group ◽  
Event Free Survival ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Cancer Group ◽  
Leucovorin Rescue ◽  
Standard Risk

Abstract Children's Cancer Group-1991 selected 2 components from the Children's Cancer Group studies shown to be effective in high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia and examined them in children with National Cancer Institute standard-risk acute B-precursor lymphoblastic leukemia. These were (1) vincristine and escalating IV methotrexate (MTX) without leucovorin rescue during the interim maintenance (IM) phases and (2) addition of a second delayed intensification (DI) phase. Eligible patients (n = 2078) were randomly assigned to regimens containing either oral (PO) MTX, PO mercaptopurine, dexamethasone, and vincristine or IV MTX during IM phases, and regimens with either single DI or double DI. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival for patients on the PO MTX arms were 88.7% ± 1.4% and 96% ± 0.9% versus 92.6% ± 1.2% and 96.5% ± 0.8% for those on the IV MTX arms (P = .009, P = .66). Five-year EFS and overall survival for patients who received single DI were 90.9% ± 1.3% and 97.1% ± 0.8% versus 90.5% ± 1.3% and 95.4% ± 3.8% for those who received double DI (P = .71, P = .12). No advantage was found for a second DI; however, replacement of PO MTX, PO mercaptopurine, vincristine, and dexamethasone during IM with vincristine and escalating IV MTX improved EFS.

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