Genomics of next generation sequencing in pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its impact on minimal residual disease / 中华儿科杂志

Objective: To describe the gene mutation profile of newly diagnosed pediatric B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and analyze its effect on minimal residual disease (MRD). Methods: A total of 506 newly diagnosed B-ALL children treated in Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from September 2018 to July 2021 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The enrolled children were divided into MRD ≥1.00% group and <1.00% group according to MRD results on the 19th day since chemotherapy, and MRD ≥0.01% group and <0.01% group according to MRD results on the 46th day. Clinical characteristics and gene mutations of two groups were compared. Comparisons between groups were performed with chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Independent risk factors of MRD results on the 19th day and the 46th day were analyzed by Logistic regression model. Results: Among all 506 patients, there were 318 males and 188 females. On the 19th day, there were 114 patients in the MRD ≥1.00% group and 392 patients in the MRD <1.00% group. On the 46th day, there were 76 patients in the MRD ≥0.01% group and 430 patients in the MRD <0.01% group. A total of 187 gene mutations were detected in 487 (96.2%) of 506 children. The most common gene mutations were signal transduction-related KRAS gene mutations in 111 cases (22.8%) and NRAS gene mutations in 99 cases (20.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that PTPN11 (OR=1.92, 95%CI 1.00-3.63), KMT2A (OR=3.51, 95%CI 1.07-11.50) gene mutations and TEL-AML1 (OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.27-0.87), BCR-ABL1 (OR=0.27, 95%CI 0.08-0.92) fusion genes and age >10 years (OR=1.91, 95%CI 1.12-3.24) were independent influencing factors for MRD ≥1.00% on the 19th day. BCORL1 (OR=2.96, 95%CI 1.18-7.44), JAK2 (OR=2.99, 95%CI 1.07-8.42) and JAK3 (OR=4.83, 95%CI 1.50-15.60) gene mutations and TEL-AML1 (OR=0.43, 95%CI 0.21-0.87) fusion gene were independent influencing factors for MRD ≥0.01% on the 46th day. Conclusions: Children with B-ALL are prone to genetic mutations, with abnormalities in the RAS signaling pathway being the most common. Signal transduction related PTPN11, JAK2 and JAK3 gene mutations, epigenetic related KMT2A gene mutation and transcription factor related BCORL1 gene mutation are independent risk factors for MRD.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis Analysis of Pediatric Severe Aplastic Anemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the clinical characteristics and factors affecting prognosis in children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA).@*METHODS@#Two hundred and five children with SAA treated in our department from January 2008 to April 2018 were selected, and the clinical characteristics and factors affecting prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among 205 SAA children, the effective rate (CR+PR) at 3, 6 and 12 months after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) treatment was 50.9%, 59.0% and 73.9%, respectively, and 5-year overall survival rate was 93.1%±2.0%. Univariate analysis showed that 5-year overall survival rate of SAA children of spontaneous delivery was higher than that of cesarean section (P=0.039), while multivariate analysis showed that birth way had no significant influence on 5-year overall survival rate (P>0.05). The response rate at 3 months after IST of children with a recent history of decoration before SAA onset was higher than those without history of decoration (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Most of the SAA children can achieve high response rate and overall survival rate. Patients with recent history of home/school decoration may be the factor affecting hematological response after 3 months of IST, but have no influence on long-term overall survival.

Analysis of the Different Therapeutic Effects in 21 Ph / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the outcomes of the children suffered from philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph@*METHODS@#21 cases of firstly diagnosed Ph@*RESULTS@#Among 21 patients, 17 were male and 4 were female with a median age of 8 years old (range, 4-12 years), the median follow-up time was 30 moths (range, 10-133 months). All the patients were treated with chemotherapy induced by the high-risk project of CCLG-ALL 2008. Among 14 patients treated with TKI plus chemotherapy, nine patients achieved complete remission. During 3 months after treatment, patients without complete molecular response or with the second complete remission and intensity desire of transplantation were treated with allo-HSCT, among 9 patients with allo-HSCT, six patients achieved long term survival.@*CONCLUSION@#At TKI era, TKI combined with strong chemotherapy can make Ph

The Outcome of Severe Aplastic Anemia Children Treated with Reduced Dose of Cyclophosphamide Combined Cyclosporine A / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the clinical efficacy and side effects of reduced-dose of cyclophosphamide combined cyclosporine A for severe aplastic anemia(SAA) children.@*METHODS@#Ten pediatric patients with SAA from January 2008 to May 2012 were enrolled. All the patients were treated with reduced dose of cyclophosphamide combined cyclosporine A. The dose of cyclophosphamide was 30 mg/(kg·d)×4 d, the dose of cyclosporine A gradually increased >15 mg/L accroding to the blood concentration.@*RESULTS@#The median follow-up time of the 10 pediatric patients was 100 months (6-126 months). Among 10 children with SAA, 4 cases achieved complete response(CR), 3 cases obtained partial response (PR) and the overall response rate was 70%, the remaining 3 cases showed no response (NR). One refractory patient treated by cyclophosphamide was progressed to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH) at 25 months and was dead at 42 months after therapy.@*CONCLUSION@#The results show that reduced-dose cyclophosphamide (30 mg/kg·d for 4 consecutive days) combinated with CsA (initial dose 4 mg/kg·d, and drugvallery concentration >150 ng/ml) can make 7 of 10 children with severe aplastic anemia achieve complete response or partial response, and this regimen may be the second line regimen selected for some SAA children.

The Correlation of Minimal Residual Disease with Prognosis in TCF3-PBX1 / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the consistency between FCM and PCR on the detecting of MRD in TCF3-PBX1@*METHODS@#55 cases of paediatric TCF3-PBX1@*RESULTS@#Among the 55 children with TCF3-PBX1@*CONCLUSION@#The detection result of MRD in TCF3-PBX1 detect by FCM and PCR shows better consistency. MRD positivity detected by FCM at the end of induction therapy (day 33) predicts a high risk of relapse in TCF3-PBX1 ALL patients.

CD20 is not a poor prognostic factor for childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia with high white blood cell count / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the significance of CD20 combined with white blood cell (WBC) count at diagnosis in the prognosis assessment in children with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 821 B-ALL children who were treated with CCLG-ALL2008 regimen from April 2008 to April 2015. Their survival status was followed up.@*RESULTS@#Among the 821 children, 547 (66.6%) were negative, while 274 (33.4%) were positive for CD20 expression. Among 694 children with WBC50×10/L (higher WBC count), the 5-year EFS rates was 64.3%±7.7% and 53.7%±5.5% for CD20 positive and negative patients respectively (P=0.135); the 5-year OS rate was 81.4%±6.4% and 58.6%±5.6% for CD20 positive and negative patients respectively (P=0.022); CD20 positive expression was an independent protective factor for OS (HR=0.367, P=0.016).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In children with B-ALL who are treated with CCLG-ALL2008 regimen, those with CD20 positive expression in lower WBC count at diagnosis have a poor prognosis; however, those with CD20 positive expression in higher WBC count at diagnosis have a better long-time survival.

Clinical features and prognosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and different platelet levels / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the association of platelet level at diagnosis with prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).@*METHODS@#A total of 892 children with ALL who underwent chemotherapy with the CCLG-ALL 2008 regimen were enrolled. According to the platelet count at diagnosis, these children were divided into normal platelet count group (platelet count ≥100×109/L; n=263) and thrombocytopenia group (platelet count 0.05). The normal platelet count group still had a significantly higher 10-year EFS rate than the thrombocytopenia group after the children with MLL gene rearrangement were excluded (P0.05). The <20×10/L subgroup had significantly lower 10-year EFS and OS rates than the normal platelet count group, the (50- <100)×10/L subgroup, and the (20- <50)×10/L subgroup (P<0.05). After the children with MLL gene rearrangement were excluded, the <20×10/L subgroup still had significantly lower 10-year EFS and OS rates than the normal platelet count group, the (50-<100)×10/L subgroup, and the (20- <50)×10/L subgroup (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#ALL children with MLL gene rearrangement often have the clinical manifestation of thrombocytopenia. Platelet level at diagnosis is associated with the prognosis of ALL children. The children with normal platelet count have a low recurrence rate and good prognosis, and those with a platelet count of <20×10/L have the worst prognosis.

Long-term clinical effect of the CCLG-ALL2008 regimen in treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia with different molecular biological features / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the long-term clinical effect of the CCLG-ALL2008 regimen in the treatment of children newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with different molecular biological features.@*METHODS@#A total of 940 children who were newly diagnosed with ALL were enrolled in this study. The children were treated with the CCLG-ALL2008 regimen. A retrospective analysis was performed for the long-term outcome of ALL children with different molecular biological features.@*RESULTS@#Among the 940 children with ALL, there were 570 boys and 370 girls, with a median age of onset of 5 years (range 1-15 years) and a median follow-up time of 65 months (range 3-123 months). The complete response (CR) rate was 96.7%, the predicted 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was 76.5%±1.5%, and the event-free survival (EFS) rate was 62.6%±3.0%. After CR was achieved after treatment, the overall recurrence rate was 21.9%. The children with positive ETV6-RUNX1 had the lowest recurrence rate and were prone to late recurrence, and those with positive MLL rearrangement had the highest recurrence rate and were prone to early recurrence. The children with positive ETV6-RUNX1 had a significantly higher predicted 10-year OS rate than those with positive TCF3-PBX1, BCR-ABL, or MLL rearrangement and those without molecular biological features (P<0.05). The children with positive ETV6-RUNX1 had a significantly higher predicted 10-year EFS rate than those with positive BCR-ABL or MLL rearrangement (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Molecular biological features may affect the long-term prognosis of children with ALL, and positive MLL rearrangement and BCR-ABL fusion gene are indicators of poor prognosis. Children with positive ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene have the highest long-term survival rate.

Clinical features and gene mutation spectrum in children with sideroblastic anemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical features and gene mutation spectrum of children with sideroblastic anemia (SA) and the clinical value of targeted next-generation sequencing in the molecular diagnosis of children with SA.@*METHODS@#Clinical data were collected from 36 children with SA. Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to detect mutations in SA-related pathogenic genes and genes associated with heme synthesis and mitochondrial iron metabolism. The association between genotype and clinical phenotype was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Of the 36 patients, 32 had congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA) and 4 had myelodysplastic syndrome with ring sideroblasts (MDS-RS). Mutations in CSA-related genes were detected in 19 children (19/36, 53%), among whom 9 (47%) had ALAS2 mutation, 4 (21%) had SLC25A38 mutation, and 6 (32%) had mitochondrial fragment deletion. No pathogenic gene mutation was detected in 4 children with MDS-RS. Among the 19 mutations, 89% (17/19) were known mutations and 11% (2/19) were novel mutations. The novel mutation of the ALAS2 gene c.1153A>T(p.I385F) was rated as "possibly pathogenic" and the novel mutation of the SLC25A38 gene c.175C>T(p.Q59X) was rated as "pathogenic".@*CONCLUSIONS@#ALAS2 and SLC25A38 gene mutations are commonly seen in children with CSA, but mitochondrial gene fragment deletion also accounts for a relatively high proportion. For children with hypoplastic anemia occurring in infancy, mitochondrial disease should be considered.

Mitoxantrone-cytarabine-etoposide induction therapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia: a single-center study of complications and clinical outcomes / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the complications and clinical outcome of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing mitoxantrone-cytarabine-etoposide (MAE) induction therapy.@*METHODS@#A total of 170 children with AML were given MAE induction therapy, and the complications and remission rate were analyzed after treatment.@*RESULTS@#The male/female ratio was 1.33:1 and the mean age was 7.4 years (range 1-15 years). Leukocyte count at diagnosis was 29.52×10/L [range (0.77-351)×10/L]. Of all children, 2 had M0-AML, 24 had M2-AML, 2 had M4-AML, 48 had M5-AML, 3 had M6-AML, 7 had M7-AML, 69 had AML with t(8;21)(q22;q22), and 15 had AML with inv(16)(p13.1q22) or t(16;16)(p13.1;q22). The most common complication was infection (158/170, 92.9%). Among these 158 patients, 22 (13.9%) had agranulocytosis with pyrexia (with no definite focus of infection), and 136 (86.1%) had definite focus of infection (including bloodstream infection). Other complications included non-infectious diarrhea, bleeding, and drug-induced hepatitis. Treatment-related mortality was observed in 10 children, among whom 8 had severe infection, 1 had multiple organ failure, and 1 had respiratory failure. Remission rate was evaluated for 156 children and the results showed a complete remission rate of 85.3%, a partial remission rate of 4.5%, and a non-remission rate of 10.3%.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Induction therapy with the MAE regimen helps to achieve a good remission rate in children with AML after one course of treatment. Infection is the main complication and a major cause of treatment-related mortality.

Clinical characteristics of clonal evolution after immunosuppressive therapy in children with severe/very severe aplastic anemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of clonal evolution after immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in children with severe/very severe aplastic anemia (SAA/VSAA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 231 children with newly-diagnosed SAA/VSAA who received IST were retrospectively studied. The incidence and risk factors of clonal evolution after IST were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5-year overall survival rate of the 231 patients was 82.7%. Except for 18 cases of early deaths, 213 patients were evaluated for IST efficacy. Among the 231 patients, cytogenetic abnormalities for at least two chromosome metaphase were detectable in 14 (7.4%) patients, and PNH clones were detectable in either peripheral red blood cells or neutrophils for 95 patients. Among the 213 patients evaluated for IST efficacy, 15 patients experienced clonal evolution after IST. Five patients had PNH and trisomy 8 which were defined as favorable progressions, and ten patients experienced monosomy 7 and MDS/AML as unfavorable progressions. The 5-year accumulative incidence of favorable and unfavorable progression were (2.2±2.2)% and (4.8±3.3)%, respectively. Until the last follow-up, 100% (5/5) of patients with favorable progressions and 50% (5/10) of patients with unfavorable progressions survived. WBC>3.5×10/L, CD3T cell percentage>80%, dosage of antithymocyte globulin >3.0 mg/(kg·d) and no response to IST were related to unfavorable progressions by univariate analysis. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that an increased CD3T cell percentage (>80%) and no response to IST were independent risk factors for unfavorable progressions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The children with SAA/VSAA who have an increased CD3T cell percentage at diagnosis or have no response to IST are in high risks of unfavorable progressions.</p>

Detection of copy number variations in pediatric ETV6/RUNX1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the application of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) in the detection of copy number variations (CNVs) in pediatric ETV6/RUNX1-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), to compare this method with conventional karyotype analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and to evaluate the value of MLPA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 95 children with ETV6/RUNX1-positive ALL who were treated from January 2006 to November 2012 were analyzed retrospectively, including clinical features, results of karyotype analysis, and results of FISH. CNVs were detected with MLPA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CNVs were detected in 73 (77%), and the median number of CNVs was 1 (range 0-6). The CNVs of EBF1, CDKN2A/2B, PAX5, ETV6, RB1, and BTG1 were detected in more than 10% of all the patients. The changes in the chromosome segments carrying the genes with CNVs detected by MLPA were not detected by conventional karyotype analysis. The coincidence rate between the CNVs in ETV6 gene detected by FISH and those detected by MLPA was 66%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MLPA is an efficient and convenient method to detect CNVs in children with ETV6/RUNX1-positive ALL.</p>

Significance of PAX5 deletion in childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia without reproducible chromosomal abnormalities / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the incidence of PAX5 deletion in childhood B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) without reproducible chromosomal abnormalities and to investigate the association between PAX5 abnormalities and prognosis of ALL.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to determine the copy numbers of PAX5 gene in children newly diagnosed with B-ALL without reproducible chromosomal abnormalities between April 2008 and April 2013 and controls (children with non-hematologic diseases or tumors). The patients were classifiied into deletion group and non-deletion group based on the presence of PAX5 deletion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighteen (21%) out of 86 children with B-ALL had PAX5 deletion. The deletion group had a significantly higher total white blood cell count at diagnosis than the non-deletion group (P=0.001). The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that the deletion group had a significantly lower disease-free survival (DFS) rate than the non-deletion group (0.69±0.12 vs 0.90±0.04; P=0.017), but there was no significant difference in the overall survival rate between the two groups (P=0.128). The Cox analysis showed that PAX5 deletion was a risk factor for DFS (P=0.03).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PAX5 deletion is an independent risk factor for DFS in B-ALL children without reproducible chromosomal abnormalities.</p>

Significance of IKZF1 gene copy number abnormalities in BCR/ABL-negative B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify IKZF1 gene copy number abnormalities in BCR/ABL-negative B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in children, and to investigate the association between such abnormalities and prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was applied to detect IKZF1 gene copy number abnormalities in 180 children diagnosed with BCR/ABL-negative B-ALL. These children were classified into IKZF1 deletion group and IKZF1 normal group according to the presence or absence of IKZF1 gene deletion. The association between IKZF1 copy number abnormalities and prognosis of children with BCR/ABL-negative B-ALL was analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 180 children, 27 (15.0%) had IKZF1 deletion; among the 27 children, 4 had complete deletions of 8 exons of IKZF1 gene, 17 had deletion of exon 1, 3 had deletions of exons 4-7, and 3 children had deletions of exons 2-7. Compared with those in the IKZF1 normal group, children in the IKZF1 deletion group had higher white blood cell (WBC) count and percentage of individuals with high risk of minimal residual disease at the first visit. IKZF1 deletions often occurred in BCR/ABL-negative children with no special fusion gene abnormalities. They were frequently accompanied by abnormalities in chromosomes 11, 8, 5, 7, and 21. The analysis with Kaplan-Meier method showed that disease-free survival (DFS) in the IKZF1 deletion group was significantly lower than that in the IKZF1 normal group (0.740 ± 0.096 vs 0.905 ± 0.034; P=0.002). Cox analysis showed that after exclusion of sex, age, initial WBC count, cerebrospinal fluid state at the first visit, prednisone response, and chromosome karyotype, IKZF1 deletion still affected the children's DFS (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Some children with BCR/ABL-negative B-ALL have IKZF1 deletion, and IKZF1 deletion is an independent risk factor for DFS in children with BCR/ABL-negative B-ALL.</p>

Gene mutations and clinical characteristics in children with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study gene mutations and clinical features in children with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 14 children who were diagnosed with JMML and were examined for the detection of common gene mutations were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven (79%) out of 14 cases were male, and 3 (21%) were female. The median age at diagnosis was 2.0 years (age range: 0.6-6.0 years). Among 14 cases, there were 4 cases (29%) with PTPN11 mutation, 3 cases (21%) with N-RAS mutation, 1 case (7%) with PTPN11 mutation and K-RAS mutation, and 6 cases (43%) without any mutation. All four cases in the PTPN11 mutation group were male, and their median age was 2.5 years; interval from onset to diagnosis was 1.0 month; the white blood cell (WBC) count and absolute monocytes in peripheral blood were significantly higher, while the platelet (PLT) count was lower, as compared with the other three groups; they were followed up, and 3 cases died and 1 case had a progressive disease. In the N-RAS mutation group, there were two male cases and one female case, and their median age was 2.0 years; interval from onset to diagnosis was 13.7 months; after follow-up, 2 cases died and 1 case did not have an obviously progressive disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PTPN11 mutation is the most common mutation in JMML. The cases with PTPN11 mutation often have higher WBC count and absolute monocytes in peripheral blood, a lower PLT count, and a rapid disease progression, and their clinical outcomes are poor. The cases with N-RAS mutation have a slow disease progression. The clinical characteristics of the patients with compound mutations are not sure because of the small number of cases, and further clinical observation is indispensable.</p>

Methylation of the genes in the 9P21 region in children with acute myeloid leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the methylation rate of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B) in the 9P21 region in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the association of gene methylation with clinical features and outcomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 58 children who were newly diagnosed with AML between January 2010 and December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-eight healthy children were recruited as the control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from bone marrow or peripheral blood of the 58 patients and 38 healthy children. The methylation status of CDKN2A and CDKN2B was analyzed by methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gene methylation was not found in healthy children. Methylation probes of 44 patients were detected in 58 patients. The methylation of CDKN2A was detected with 136 bp and 237 bp methylation probes. The methylation of CDKN2B was detected with 130 bp, 210 bp, 220 bp, and 417 bp methylation probes. The methylation rate of CDKN2A was 5%, while the methylation rate of CDKN2B was 76%. The methylation detected by some probes was associated with sex, hemoglobin, and platelet count at the first visit.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The methylation of CDKN2B is a common event in children with AML, while the methylation of CDKN2A is relatively rare.</p>

Clinical features of childhood refractory cytopenia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features of patients with refractory cytopenia of childhood (RCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 1 420 children (0-14 years old) with an initial diagnosis of non-severe aplastic anemia between January 1990 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Bone marrow cell morphology and histopathology were re-evaluated, and the patients were re-classified using the criteria proposed in the 2008 edition of the World Health Organization classification of RCC in hematopoietic and lymphoid tumor tissues. The clinical outcomes were followed up every 3-6 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among all the 1 420 cases, 152 (10.7%) were reassessed as RCC. Patients with RCC had a lower level of hemoglobin and a higher percentage of fetal hemoglobin than those with non-severe aplastic anemia. Of the patients with RCC, 21.5% showed abnormal karyotypes at diagnosis. The median follow-up period for all patients was 36 months (ranging from 1 to 283 months). The rates of complete response, partial response, and no response to cyclosporine and androgen treatment in RCC patients were 19.0%, 26.7%, and 54.3%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year prospective overall survival rates of RCC patients were 87.9% and 72.4%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year prospective clonal evolution rates were 15.3% and 20.0%, respectively. The 2-year prospective incidence of newly diagnosed karyotype abnormality after the initial diagnosis was 3.6%. The 5- and 10-year prospective leukemia transformation rates were 10.0% and 20.0%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RCC shows clinical features similar to adult myelodysplastic syndrome. Children with RCC have a poor prognosis, an increased risk of transformation to leukemia, and a low response rate to cyclosporine treatment.</p>

Clinical features of children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the CCLG-ALL2008 protocol / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features of children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with the CCLG-ALL2008 protocol.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The data of 591 children who were newly diagnosed with ALL and were treated with the CCLG-ALL 2008 protocol between April 2008 and June 2013 were collected, and the clinical features of 80 children with relapsed ALL were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment with the CCLG-ALL2008 protocol, the recurrence rate in the standard-risk, intermediate-risk and the high-risk groups were 7.0%, 10.7% and 28.7% respectively (P<0.05). The recurrence rate in patients with TEL/AML1-positive ALL was 8.0%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) of the relapsed patients was 37.04%. The recurrence rates in patients with MLL-positive and BCR/ABL-positive ALL were 35.0% and 24.2% respectively, and none of the relapsed patients had long-term survival. The recurrence mainly occurred at the very early stage (53%), and none of patients with recurrence at the very early stage had long-term survival. The recurrence occurred at early stage and late stage accounted for 34% and 14% respectively, and the 5-year OS rates of patients with recurrence at early stage and late stage were 11.44% and 60.00% respectively. The sites of recurrence were mainly bone marrow alone (83%), and the 5-year OS of patients with recurrence at bone marrow alone was 9.23%. The recurrence in bone marrow and outside bone marrow accounted for 11%, and the 5-year OS of patients with recurrence in both bone marrow and outside bone marrow was 25.00%. The recurrence only outside bone marrow accounted for 6%, and the 5-year OS of patients with recurrence only outside bone marrow was 100%. The recurrence rate in patients with T-cell ALL was 9.5%, and none of the relapsed patients had long-term survival. The recurrence rate in patients with B-cell ALL was 14.3%, and the 5-year OS of the relapsed patients was 15.52%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>After treatment with the CCLG-ALL2008 protocol, a relatively high recurrence rate is observed in children with high-risk ALL. Positive MLL and positive BCR/ABL are high-risk factors for recurrence. The recurrence rate is not significantly correlated with immunophenotype. A very low survival rate is seen in children whose recurrence have the following features: at early stage, only in bone marrow, T-cell ALL, and abnormal BCR/ABL and MLL.</p>

Efficacy and safety of imatinib for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy and safety of Chinese Childhood Leukemia Group ALL 2008 (CCLG-ALL2008) protocol combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI, imatinib) for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 53 patients aged less than 15 years when first diagnosed with Ph+ ALL between October 2008 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were assigned to two groups: HR (n=26) and HR+TKI (n=27). The HR group was treated with CCLG-ALL2008 protocol (for high-risk patients). The HR+TKI group was treated with imatinib in combination with CCLG-ALL2008 protocol (for high-risk patients).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The complete remission rate and chemotherapy induction-related mortality rate in the TKI+HR and HR groups were 100% vs 75% and 0 vs 15%, respectively. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate in the HR group was (6±5)%; the 5-year EFS rate of the TKI+HR group was (52±11)%. Compared with the HR group, the TKI+HR group had no increase in the toxic responses to chemotherapy and had a decrease in the infection rate during the induction period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Application of imatinib significantly improves the clinical efficacy in children with Ph+ ALL and has good safety.</p>

Long-term efficacy of CAMSBDH-ALL chemotherapy protocol for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the long-term efficacy of CAMSBDH-ALL chemotherapy protocol for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and eighteen children who were newly diagnosed with ALL between January 1999 and December 2007 were enrolled in this study. Among the 318 children, 83 children who hospitalized before December 2002 were treated with CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol, including 48 patients of standard risk and 35 patients of high risk. The patients (n=235; 131 in standard risk and 104 in high risk) who hospitalized after December 2002 were treated with CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol. Patients in the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol group were treated with conventional chemotherapy. CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol was modified based on the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The long-term overall survival (OS) and event-free-survival (EFS) in the CAMSBDH-ALL03 group was significantly higher than in the CAMSBDH-ALL99 (P<0.01). The long-term OS and EFS of standard risk and high risk patients in the CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol group were significantly higher than in the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol group (P<0.01). The CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol group showed a significantly lower recurrence rate (28.9%) than in the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol group (50.6%) (P<0.05). The mortality rate in the CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol group was 28.5% vs 56.6% in the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The therapeutic effect of the CAMSBDH-ALL03 protocol is supior to the CAMSBDH-ALL99 protocol group for childhood ALL, with a higher long-term survival rate.</p>