ALL-BFM 95 treatment in Turkish children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia--experience of a single center

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2012 Mar;29(2):130-40. doi: 10.3109/08880018.2011.629859.

Abstract

Little is known about the likelihood of curing children with high-dose chemotherapy regimens for treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Turkey. The authors here report their 13 years' experience with original ALL-BFM (Berlin-Franfurt-Münster) 95 protocol in a cohort of 140 Turkish children with ALL. Complete remission rate was 97.7% with a relapse rate of 12.9% and death rate 17.9% during a median follow-up of 69 months. The event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in these patients at 12 years were 75.0%, 87.1%, and 80.6%, respectively. These results show that ALL-BFM 95 protocol is equally applicable in the experienced centers, even in developing countries without substantial treatment-related toxicity. High rate of infection deaths are to be reduced with correct policies.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / diagnosis
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Turkey