mercaptopurine and Mucositis

The Children's Cancer Group 1991 study was a clinical trial for children with National Cancer Institute standard-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This trial demonstrated that 5 doses of vincristine and escalating IV methotrexate (MTX) without leucovorin rescue in the interim maintenance (IM) phases resulted in superior event-free survival (EFS) when compared with 2 doses of vincristine, oral (PO) MTX, PO mercaptopurine, and dexamethasone. This report describes a favorable outcome of this regimen in patients with Down syndrome (DS). Forty-four patients with DS were randomized to the arms containing PO MTX during IM, and 31 to those containing IV MTX. Ten-year EFS rates for patients with DS randomized to IV MTX vs PO MTX were 94.4% ± 5.4% vs 81.5% ± 6.6%, respectively. IV methotrexate with strict escalation parameters, as given in this study, was well tolerated, although the mean total tolerated dose received was lower in patients with DS than in those without DS. There was no increase in hepatic toxicity, systemic infections, or treatment-related deaths in patients with DS during IM on either the IV or PO MTX arms, as compared with those without DS. The incidence of mucositis was increased in patients with DS as compared with patients without DS, particularly among patients who received IV MTX. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00005945.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Child; Child, Preschool; Dexamethasone; Disease-Free Survival; Down Syndrome; Female; Humans; Male; Mercaptopurine; Mucositis; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Survival Rate; Vincristine

No randomised study has shown whether stratification of treatment by minimal residual disease (MRD) response improves outcome in children and young people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). We assessed whether children and young people with clinical standard and intermediate-risk ALL who have persistent MRD at the end of induction therapy benefit from augmented post-remission therapy.. Between Oct 1, 2003, and June 30, 2011, we enrolled eligible patients aged 1-24 years and initially categorised them into clinical standard-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups on the basis of a combination of National Cancer Institute criteria, cytogenetics, and early morphological response to induction therapy. Clinical standard-risk and intermediate-risk patients with MRD of 0·01% or higher at day 29 of induction (MRD high risk) were randomly assigned (1:1) to standard therapy (treatment regimens A and B) or augmented post-remission therapy (regimen C). Compared with standard therapy, the augmented treatment regimen (regimen C) included an additional eight doses of pegylated asparaginase, 18 doses of vincristine, and escalated-dose intravenous methotrexate without folinic acid rescue during interim maintenance courses. Computer randomisation was used for treatment allocation and was balanced for sex, age (<10 years vs ≥10 years), and white blood cell count at diagnosis (<50 × 10(9)/L vs ≥50 × 10(9)/L) by minimisation. Patients, clinicians, and data analysts were not masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcomes were event-free survival and overall survival. Analyses were by intention to treat. This trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN07355119.. 533 MRD high-risk patients were randomly assigned to receive standard (n=266) or augmented (n=267) post-remission therapy. After a median follow-up of 70 months (IQR 52-91), 5-year event-free survival was better in the augmented treatment group (89·6% [95% CI 85·9-93·3]) than in the standard group (82·8% [78·1-87·5]; odds ratio [OR] 0·61 [95% CI 0·39-0·98], p=0·04). Overall survival at 5 years was numerically, but not significantly, higher in the augmented treatment group (92·9% [95% CI 89·8-96·0]) than in the standard therapy group (88·9% [85·0-92·8]; OR 0·67 [95% CI 0·38-1·17], p=0·16). More adverse events occurred in the augmented treatment group than in the standard group (asparaginase-related hypersensitivity in 18 [6·7%] in the augmented group vs two [0·8%] in the standard group and asparaginase-related pancreatitis in eight [3·0%] vs one [0·4%]; intravenous methotrexate-related mucositis in 11 [4·1%] vs three [1·1%] and methotrexate-related stomatitis in 48 [18·0%] vs 12 [4·5%]).. Our findings suggest that children and young people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and 0·01% or more MRD at the end of remission induction therapy could benefit from augmented post-remission therapy. However, the asparaginase and intravenous methotrexate used in the augmented treatment regimen is associated with more adverse events than is the standard post-remission treatment regimen.. Medical Research Council and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Asparaginase; Child; Child, Preschool; Consolidation Chemotherapy; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Dexamethasone; Disease-Free Survival; Doxorubicin; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mucositis; Neoplasm, Residual; Pancreatitis; Polyethylene Glycols; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Remission Induction; Risk Assessment; Stomatitis; Survival Rate; Vincristine

This study explored the feasibility and toxicity of individualized toxicity-titrated 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) dose increments during post-remission treatment with High-dose methotrexate (HDM) (5000 mg/m(2), ×3) in 38 patients with Childhood (ALL). Patients were increased in steps of 25 mg 6MP/m(2) per day if they did not develop myelotoxicity within 2 weeks after HDM. 6MP could be increased in 31 patients (81%). Toxicity was acceptable and did not differ significantly between groups. Patients receiving 75 mg/m(2) per day had significantly shorter duration of treatment interruptions of 6MP than the remaining patients (P = 0·03). This study shows individualized toxicity-titrated 6MP dosing during consolidation is feasible without increased risk of toxicity.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Child; Child, Preschool; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Feasibility Studies; Female; Fever; Humans; Infant; Male; Mercaptopurine; Methotrexate; Mucositis; Pancreatitis; Pilot Projects; Precision Medicine; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

Although thiopurine is a crucial drug for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, individual variations in intolerance are observed due to gene polymorphisms. A 3-year-old boy with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was administered thiopurine developed mucositis, sepsis, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to prolonged hematologic toxicity, chronic disseminated candidiasis, and infective endocarditis that triggered multiple brain infarctions. The patient was found to harbor 3 gene polymorphisms associated with thiopurine intolerance including homozygous NUDT15 R139C, heterozygous ITPA C94A, and homozygous MTHFR C677T and heterozygous RFC1 G80A. Thus, the combined effect of intolerance via multiple gene polymorphisms should be considered in case of unexpected adverse reactions.

Topics: Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Brain Infarction; Child, Preschool; Drug Hypersensitivity; Homozygote; Humans; Infections; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic; Male; Mercaptopurine; Mucositis; Polymorphism, Genetic; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prognosis; Pyrophosphatases; Sepsis