Construção e validação de História em Quadrinhos para crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda / Construcción y validación de Cómics a niños con leucemia linfocítica aguda / Construction and validation of Comics at children with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Resumo Introdução O câncer tem impacto na vida das crianças e seus familiares. As Histórias em Quadrinhos podem ser uma estratégia de fortalecer o vínculo e a comunicação entre profissional/paciente/família. Objetivo Desenvolver e validar um material instrucional/educativo, no formato de Histórias em Quadrinhos, voltada para crianças hospitalizadas com leucemia linfóide aguda. Metodologia Estudo metodológico desenvolvido em nove etapas: elaboração do projeto de pesquisa; definição e seleção do conteúdo; adaptação da linguagem; inclusão de ilustrações; construção de um material piloto; validação do material; layout; impressão final e disponibilização. A validação ocorreu com 10 especialistas entre março e maio de 2022, utilizando-se o Instrumento de Validação de Conteúdo Educativo em Saúde. Resultados Foram elaboradas 5 Histórias em Quadrinhos, com 6 personagens principais, sendo necessárias 63 horas de trabalho. Elas foram divididas por temáticas (distúrbios gastrointestinais; cistite hemorrágica; problemas relacionados a autoestima e autoimagem; risco de infecção e dor óssea) que obtiveram Índice de Validade de Conteúdo global satisfatório entre 0,78 e 0,87. Conclusões e implicações para a prática As histórias em quadrinhos podem ser utilizadas como fonte atrativa e confiável de informações sobre a doença, servindo como apoio às informações durante a internação hospitalar e o preparo para alta.

Resumen Introducción El cáncer tiene un impacto en la vida de los niños y sus familias. Los cómics pueden ser una estrategia para fortalecer el vínculo y la comunicación entre profesional/paciente/familia. Objetivo Desarrollar y validar un material didáctico/educativo, en formato de Historietas, dirigido a niños hospitalizados con leucemia linfocítica aguda. Metodología Estudio metodológico desarrollado en nueve etapas: elaboración del proyecto de investigación; definición y selección de contenidos; adaptación lingüística; inclusión de ilustraciones; construcción de un material piloto; validación del material; disposición; impresión final y disponibilidad. La validación se realizó con 10 especialistas entre marzo y mayo de 2022, utilizando el Instrumento de Validación de Contenido de Educación en Salud. Resultados Se crearon 5 Comics, con 6 personajes principales, requiriendo 63 horas de trabajo. Fueron divididos por temas (trastornos gastrointestinales; cistitis hemorrágica; problemas relacionados con la autoestima y la autoimagen; riesgo de infección y dolor óseo) que obtuvieron un Índice de Validez de Contenido global satisfactorio entre 0,78 y 0,87. Conclusiones e implicaciones para la práctica Los cómics pueden ser utilizados como una fuente atractiva y confiable de información sobre la enfermedad, apoyando información durante la hospitalización y preparación para el alta.

Abstract Introduction Cancer has an impact on the lives of children and their families. Comics can be a strategy to strengthen the bond and communication between professional/patient/family. Objective To develop and validate an instructional/educational material, in the format of Comics, aimed at children hospitalized with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Methodology Methodological study developed in nine stages: preparation of the research project; content definition and selection; language adaptation; inclusion of illustrations; construction of a pilot material; validation of the material; layout; final printing and availability. Validation took place with 10 specialists between March and May 2022, using the Health Education Content Validation Instrument. Results 5 Comics were created, with 6 main characters, requiring 63 hours of work. They were divided by themes (gastrointestinal disorders; hemorrhagic cystitis; problems related to self-esteem and self-image; risk of infection and bone pain) that obtained a satisfactory global Content Validity Index between 0.78 and 0.87. Conclusions and implications for practice Comics can be used as an attractive and reliable source of information about the disease, supporting information during hospitalization and preparation for discharge.

Escala pediátrica de disfunción multiorgánica secuencial: validación en pacientes pediátricos graves con leucemia linfoide aguda / Pediatric sequential multiorgan dysfunction scale: validation in critical pediatric patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Introducción: Los pacientes que ingresan a la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos son aquellos con alto riesgo de mortalidad que pueden presentar síndrome de disfunción orgánica múltiple. Los pacientes que padecen leucemia linfoide aguda forman parte de este grupo. Objetivos: Validar la escala pediátrica de evaluación del fallo multiorgánico secuencial (pSOFA) en pacientes cubanos graves con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoide aguda. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, prospectivo, multicéntrico, en unidades de cuidados intensivos de hospitales cubanos con 92 pacientes y 184 ingresos. Se calcularon las puntuaciones de las escalas de disfunción multiorgánica secuencial, riesgo de mortalidad e índice de mortalidad pediátrica, y se evaluó la presencia de disfunción orgánica en las primeras 24 h y a las 48 h. Resultados: La puntuación pSOFA fue mayor en los no supervivientes (p < 0,001) y la mortalidad se incrementó de modo progresivo en los subgrupos con las puntuaciones pSOFA más altas. El análisis de las curvas de las características operativas del receptor (ROC) mostró que el área bajo la curva (AUC) para la predicción de la mortalidad con la puntuación pSOFA fue de 0,89, comparado con 0,84 y 0,79 con las escalas PRISM-3 y PIM-2, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La escala pSOFA mostró ser útil para establecer los criterios disfunción orgánica y su especificidad en el riesgo de mortalidad en los pacientes pediátricos cubanos críticos con diagnóstico de leucemia linfoide aguda(AU)

Introduction: Patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are those with a high risk of mortality who may present multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Patients with acute lymphoid leukemia are part of this group. Objectives: To validate the pediatric sequential multi-organ failure assessment scale (pSOFA) in severe Cuban patients diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia. Methods: An observational, prospective, multicenter study was carried out in intensive care units of Cuban hospitals with 92 patients and 184 admissions. The scores of the sequential multiple organ dysfunction, mortality risk and pediatric mortality index scales were calculated, and the presence of organ dysfunction was evaluated in the first 24 hours and at 48 hours. Results: The pSOFA score was higher in non-survivors (p <0.001) and mortality progressively increased in the subgroups with the highest pSOFA scores. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction of mortality with the pSOFA score was 0.89, compared to 0.84 and 0.79 with the PRISM-3 and PIM-2 scales, respectively. Conclusions: The pSOFA scale proved useful to establish the criteria for organ dysfunction and its specificity in the risk of mortality in critical Cuban pediatric patients diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia(AU)

Susceptibility to thiopurine toxicity by TPMT and NUDT15 variants in Colombian children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / Asociación de variantes genéticas en TPMT y NUDT15 con los eventos de toxicidad durante la terapia de mantenimiento en niños colombianos con Leucemia Linfoide Aguda

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to correlate the genetic profile of the NUDT15 and TPMT genes with the side effects of the treatment of pediatric patients with acute lymphoid leukemia who were undergoing maintenance therapy at a tertiary care hospital in 2017. Methods: This was an analytical, longitudinal, observational study in which the genotypes of the genes of interest were determined by PCR allelic discrimination with TaqMan® probes in patients receiving chemotherapy during the maintenance phase in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit in 2017. Sociodemographic and clinical data corresponding to the first six months of their maintenance chemotherapy were collected, and the correlation between the genotypes obtained and the development of side effects during the maintenance phase of chemotherapy in these patients was evaluated. Results: Seventy pediatric patients were included in the study. Genetic analyses were carried out of these for NUDT15 and TPMT (rs1800462 and rs1800460) on 68 patients, while for the rs1142345 polymorphism, typing was achieved in 42 patients. 4/68 patients were heterozygous for NUDT15, and the same number of patients were heterozygous for rs1800462 and rs1142345, while for rs1800460, 6 heterozygous patients were identified. No statistically significant association was identified between the genetic variants and the outcomes of interest. Conclusion: Studies with a larger population size are needed and the evaluation of other genetic variants that may influence the development of side effects during maintenance chemotherapy.

Resumen Objetivo: la finalidad de este estudio fue evaluar las asociaciones entre los perfiles de los genes NUDT15 y TPMT con los efectos adversos del tratamiento de mantenimiento en pacientes pediátricos con Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda atendidos en un hospital de referencia durante el 2017. Métodos: Este fue un estudio observacional analítico, de corte longitudinal en el que los genotipos de los genes de interés fueron determinados mediante PCR de discriminación alélica con sondas TaqMan® en pacientes que estaban recibiendo quimioterapia de mantenimiento en la Unidad de Oncohematología Pediátrica durante el 2017. Los datos clínicos y sociodemográficos correspondientes a los primeros 6 meses de sus tratamientos de mantenimiento fueron colectados, y se evaluó la correlación entre los genotipos identificados y el desarrollo de efectos secundarios en estos pacientes. Resultados: setenta pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio, de estos, los análisis genéticos para NUDT15 y TPMT (rs1800462 and rs1800460) fueron realizados en 68 pacientes, en tanto que para el polimorfismo rs1142345 se logró la tipificación en 42 pacientes. 4/68 pacientes fueron heterocigotos para NUDT15 y el mismo número de pacientes fueron heterocigotos para rs1800462 and rs1142345, mientras que para rs1800460, 6 pacientes heterocigotos fueron identificados. No se identificaron asociaciones estadísticamente significantes entre las variants genéticas y los resultados clínicos de interés. Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de realizar estudios de este tipo con un mayor número de sujetos de estudio, así como plantean la necesidad de evaluar otras variantes genéticas que podrían tener algún impacto en el desarrollo de efectos secundarios durante la quimioterapia de mantenimiento.

Disfunción orgánica en pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoide aguda en el Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología / Organic dysfunction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoid leukemia at the Institute of Hematology and Immunology

Introducción: El pronóstico de las enfermedades hematológicas malignas ha experimentado un importante avance en las últimas décadas, sobre todo por las nuevas combinaciones de quimioterapia. Estos hechos han propiciado que muchos de estos pacientes, en algún momento de su enfermedad, sean tratados en unidades de cuidados intensivos, lo que no era frecuente hace dos décadas. Objetivo: Describir el desarrollo de la disfunción múltiple de órganos en pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoide aguda en terapia intensiva en el Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio clínico, observacional, transversal en el que se incluyeron los pacientes pediátricos con leucemia linfoblástica aguda y disfunción múltiple de órganos, atendidos en el servicio de terapia intensiva en el periodo 2018 a 2020. Se analizaron las variables: sociodemográficas, estado nutricional, diagnóstico al ingreso, puntaje del score pSOFA, conducta fármaco-terapéutica. Resultados: El grupo de edad más afectado fue el de 1 a 4 años, en su mayoría normopesos, con complicaciones de choque séptico, distrés respiratorio, y con 33 por ciento de mortalidad mayor en aquellos pacientes con score pSOFA con más de 10 puntos. La conducta terapéutica más utilizada fue la administración de oxígeno, fluidoterapia y antibióticos de tercera y cuarta generación en la primera hora de ingreso al servicio. Conclusiones: Si el puntaje del score pSOFA es mayor de 10 puntos existe mayor riesgo de muerte y mortalidad pediátrica (90 por ciento )(AU)

Introduction: The prognosis of hematological malignancies has undergone an important advance in the last decades, mainly due to the new chemotherapy combinations. These facts have led many of these patients to be treated in intensive care units at some point during their illness. Objective: To describe the development of multiple organ dysfunction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoid leukemia in intensive care at the Institute of Hematology and Immunology. Methods: A clinical, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out that included pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and multiple organ dysfunction, treated in the intensive care service in the period from 2018 to 2020. The variables were analyzed: sociodemographic, nutritional status, diagnosis on admission, pSOFA score, drug-therapeutic behavior. Results: The most affected age group was 1 to 4 years old, mostly normal weight, with complications of septic shock, respiratory distress, and 33 percent higher mortality in those patients with a pSOFA score with more than 10 points. The most used therapeutic approach was the administration of oxygen, fluid therapy and third and fourth generation antibiotics in the first hour of admission to the service. Conclusions: If the pSOFA score is greater than 10 points, there is a greater risk of death and pediatric mortality (90 percent)(AU).

Eventos adversos a medicamentos durante el tratamiento de inducción de la leucemia linfoide aguda en niños / Adverse drug events during the induction treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children

Introducción: Durante el tratamiento de inducción de la leucemia linfoide aguda en niños no siempre se identifican las reacciones adversas a medicamentos. Objetivo: Describir los eventos adversos y las reacciones adversas a medicamentos durante el tratamiento de inducción de la leucemia linfoide aguda, en niños tratados en el Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología de Cuba, durante 2012-2017. Método: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, de series de casos en farmacovigilancia, se utilizó la farmacovigilancia activa. Variables: sexo, edad, grupo pronóstico, semana de tratamiento, tipo de evento adverso, sistema de órgano afectado, severidad e imputabilidad. La información se obtuvo del registro nacional del protocolo ALLIC-BFM 2009 y las historias clínicas. Resultados: Se incluyeron 69 niños, 55,1 por ciento (38 casos) fueron masculinos, 56,5 por ciento (39 niños) tenía entre uno y seis años. El 52,2 por ciento (36 pacientes) pertenecían al grupo pronóstico intermedio. Se registraron 471 eventos adversos. El 50,5 por ciento (238/471) ocurrió en la primera semana de tratamiento. Los más frecuentes: anemia (17,8 por ciento; 84/471), neutropenia (16,1 por ciento; 76/471) y trombocitopenia (15,9 por ciento; 75/471). Los sistemas de órganos más afectados: hemolinfopoyético (57,54 por ciento; 271/471) y gastrointestinal (15,71 por ciento; 74/471). El 93,2 por ciento (439/471) se clasificó en reacciones adversas posibles. Según gravedad el 72,4 por ciento (330/456) fueron moderadas y el 27,4 por ciento (125/456) graves. Conclusiones: Todos los casos presentaron eventos adversos, predominaron las alteraciones hematológicas y los eventos reportados para fármacos incluidos en la quimioterapia. Se identificaron reacciones adversas clasificadas como posibles, con predominio de las moderadas y graves(AU)

Introduction: During the induction treatment of acute lymphoid leukemia in children, adverse drug reactions are not always identified. Aims: Describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of children with acute lymphoid leukemia who receive induction treatment at the Institute of Hematology and Immunology between 2012-2017. Characterize adverse events that occur during induction treatment. Describe adverse drug reactions during induction. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study of case series in pharmacovigilance, used active pharmacovigilance. Variables: sex, age, prognosis group, week of treatment, type of adverse event, organ system affected, severity and imputability. The information was obtained from the national register of the ALLIC-BFM 2009 protocol and the medical records. Results: 69 children were included, 55.1 percent belonged to the male sex, 56.5 percent were between one and six years old. 52.2 percent (36 children) belonged to the intermediate prognosis group. 471 events were recorded. 50.5 percent occurred in the first week of treatment. The most frequent: anemia (17.8 percent), neutropenia (16.1 percent) and thrombocytopenia (15.9 percent). The most affected organ systems: hemolinfopoietic (57.5 percent) and gastrointestinal (15.7 percent). According to the severity, 72.4 percent were moderate and 27.4 percent severe. Conclusions: The whole presented adverse events, hematological alterations and reported events for drugs included in chemotherapy predominated. Adverse reactions classified as possible were identified, moderate and severe predominated(AU)

Síndromes neurocutáneos y leucemia linfoide aguda: a propósito de un caso / Neurocutaneous syndromes and acute lymphoid leukemia: a case report

Introducción: Los síndromes neurocutáneos comprenden un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos hereditarios que comprometen principalmente la piel y el sistema nervioso central. Dentro de estos se incluye la neurofibromatosis, la esclerosis tuberosa y la enfermedad de Von-Hippel Lindau. Se caracterizan por presencia de displasia en distintos tejidos y formación de tumores en diversos órganos. Se ha descrito también un riesgo relativo aumentado para leucemia linfoblástica aguda, leucemia mielomonocítica crónica y linfoma no Hodgkin. Objetivo: Describir caso de paciente con diagnóstico de síndrome neurocutáneo (esclerosis tuberosa) que desarrolló a los 6 años una leucemia linfoide aguda. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina, seis años de edad, con antecedentes de síndrome neurocutáneo tipo esclerosis tuberosa diagnosticado a los dos años de edad- Comenzó con síndrome febril, adenopatías cervicales y hepatoesplenomegalia. El hemograma mostró anemia, trombocitopenia grave y leucocitosis con presencia de blastos. En el medulograma se observó una infiltración de 90 por ciento de blastos linfoides, por lo que se diagnosticó como una leucemia linfoide aguda. Conclusiones: La coexistencia de síndromes neurocutáneos y leucemia linfoide aguda no es frecuente. Se describe una paciente con ambas enfermedades, que fallece a pesar del tratamiento(AU)

Introduction: Neurocutaneous syndromes comprise a heterogeneous set of hereditary disorders mainly affecting the skin and the central nervous system. Among the conditions included are neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis and von Hippel-Lindau disease, characterized by dysplasia in various tissues and the formation of tumors in various organs. Increased relative risk has also been described for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Objective: Describe the case of a patient diagnosed with neurocutaneous syndrome (tuberous sclerosis) who developed acute lymphoid leukemia at age six. Clinical case: A case is presented of a female six-year-old patient with a history of neurocutaneous syndrome, tuberous sclerosis type, diagnosed at age two. The patient started with febrile syndrome, cervical adenopathies and hepatosplenomegaly. The blood count revealed anemia, severe thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis with the presence of blasts, whereas the medullogram showed 90 percent infiltration by lymphoid blasts, leading to the diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia. Conclusions: Coexistence of neurocutaneous syndromes and acute lymphoid leukemia is not frequent. A case is described of a patient with both conditions who died despite the treatment indicated(AU)

Incidencia y determinantes demográficos de la leucemia linfoide aguda en pacientes con cáncer pediátrico, Antioquia / Incidence and demographic determinants of lymphocytic leukemia in pediatric patients with cancer, Antioquia

Introducción: En el mundo las leucemias agudas son los tumores más frecuentes en la edad pediátrica, de gran interés por sus implicaciones en el niño y su familia. Objetivo: Identificar la incidencia de leucemia linfoide aguda y su asociación con determinantes demográficos en pacientes con cáncer pediátrico, Antioquia, 2017. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal, retrospectivo con intención analítica, sobre la incidencia de leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) y su asociación con determinantes demográficos no causales de pacientes con cáncer infantil, en 190 registros del Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública (SIVIGILA). Resultados: Las tasas de incidencia de cáncer infantil y LLA fueron 10 casos y 4 casos por cada 100.000 habitantes ≤18 años respectivamente. Las variables asociadas a LLA son: ser hombre (RPa: 1,02 IC95%: 0,52 - 2,02), residencia rural (RPa: 1,59 IC95%: 0,55 - 4,56), afiliación al régimen subsidiado (RPa: 1,41 IC95%: 0,68 - 2,92), edad ≥ 9 años (RPa: 0,76 IC95%: 0,38 - 1,50) y oportunidad diagnóstica confirmatoria ≥ 16 días (RPa: 0,34 IC95%: 0,10 - 1,15). Conclusiones: Ser hombre, vivir en zona rural y estar afiliado al régimen subsidiado, está relacionado con la incidencia de leucemia linfoide aguda.

Introduction: Acute leukemias are the most frequent pediatric malignancies worldwide that have led to a great interest due to their implications for children and their families. Objective: To identify the incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia and its association with demographic determinants in pediatric cancer patients from Antioquia (Colombia) in 2017. Materials and methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was carried out with an analytical approach to identify the incidence of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and its association with non-causal demographic determinants in patients with pediatric cancer. 190 records from the Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) were analyzed. Results: The incidence rates of childhood cancer and ALL were 10 and 4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants ≤18 years of age, respectively. The variables associated with ALL are: being male (APR: 1.02 95% CI: 0.52 - 2.02); living in rural areas (APR: 1.59 95% CI: 0.55 - 4.56); being affiliated to the subsidized regime (APR: 1.41 95% CI: 0.68 - 2.92); being ≥ 9 years of age (APR: 0.76 95% CI: 0.38 - 1.50); and having a confirmatory diagnosis after 16 days (APR: 0.34 95% CI: 0.10 - 1.15). Conclusions: The variables related to acute lymphocytic leukemia are: being a man; living in rural areas; and being affiliated to the subsidized regime.

Resultados del Protocolo ACHOP 2006 en los niños con leucemia linfoblástica aguda en la Fundación HOMI Hospital de la Misericordia de Bogotá, en el periodo 2007 - 2012 / Results of the 2006 ACHOP protocol on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the HOMI Hospital of Misericordia Foundation in Bogotá in the period 2007 to 2012

RESUMEN Introducción: la leucemia aguda es la neoplasia más común en niños, constituye aproximadamente el 25 % de todos los tumores en la infancia. En Colombia la proporción de curación, alrededor del 50 %, es inferior a lo informado en países desarrollados. Objetivo: el objetivo principal es determinar la supervivencia global y libre de eventos, la proporción de abandono y recaída de los niños con el diagnóstico de leucemia linfoide aguda tratados con el Protocolo ACHOP 2006. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo de tipo cohorte de 183 pacientes menores de 18 años, con el diagnóstico confirmado de leucemia linfoide aguda, que recibieron tratamiento en la Fundación HOMI desde el 2007 hasta el 2012. Los análisis de supervivencia se obtuvieron con curvas de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: se analizó la supervivencia global a 2, 3 y 5 años con resultados de 89 %, 87,3 % y 74,7 % (IC 95 % 67-80,9), respectivamente. A los 5 años la supervivencia para el grupo de riesgo estándar fue de 78,6 % (IC 95 % 68,3 - 85,1) y para el de riesgo alto 61,9 % (IC 95 % 50,7- 73). La supervivencia libre de evento, al considerar el abandono y traslado a otra institución como evento, fue de 56,3 % (IC 95 % 45,5-65,8) a los 5 años. La mortalidad en inducción fue de 3,8 %, la mortalidad relacionada con el tratamiento fue 3,4 %. Treinta y dos pacientes (17 %) recayeron, el abandono fue de 16,4 % y los traslados de 10,4 %. La principal complicación del tratamiento fueron las infecciones. Conclusiones: la supervivencia global es aceptable para un país de recursos limitados. Los eventos de abandono y traslado son muy altos. Deben aunarse esfuerzos para disminuir estas situaciones que empeoran el pronóstico de la enfermedad.

SUMMARY Introduction: Acute leukemia is the most common neoplasm in children, accounting for approximately 25% of all tumors in childhood. In Colombia the cure proportion, around 50%, are lower than reported in developed countries. Objective: The main objective is to determine the global and event-free survival of children with diagnosis of lymphoblastic leukemia, all treated with the ACHOP Protocol 2006, from 2007 to 2012. The secondary objectives are to describe mortality, abandonment, relapse and major complications related to treatment. Material and methods: A descriptive cohort study of 183 patients under 18 years of age, with a confirmed diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who were treated at the Foundation of the Misericordia (HOMI) from 2007 to 2012, was performed. The survival dates were obtained by analysis with Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: We analyzed overall survival at 2, 3 and 5 years with results of 89%, 87.3% and 74.7 % (95% CI 67 - 80.9) respectively. At 5 years survival for the standard risk group was 78.6 % (95 % CI 68.3-85.1) and 61.9 % (95 % CI 50.7-73) for the high risk group. The event-free survival, considering the abandonment and transfer to another institution as an event, was 56.3 % (95% CI 45.5 - 65.8) at 5 years. Mortality in induction was 3.8 %, mortality related to treatment was 3.4 %, 32 patients (17 %) relapsed, abandonment was 16.4 % and transfers 10.4 %. The main complication of the treatment was infections. Conclusions: Overall survival is acceptable for a country with limited resources, the events of abandonment and transfers are very high. Efforts should be made to reduce these situations that worsen the prognosis of the disease.

Expressão da L-asparaginase II de Saccharomyces cerevisiae recombinante extracelular com glicosilação humanizada em Pichia pastoris / Extracellular expression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae's L-asparaginase II in Pichia pastoris with humanized glycosylation

L-asparaginase é um inibidor eficiente do crescimento tumoral, usado em sessões de quimioterapia contra a Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA), resultando na remissão completa da doença em 90% dos pacientes tratados. A L-asparaginase II de Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScASNaseII) tem alto potencial de superar os efeitos adversos da L-asparaginase de bactéria, porém sua produção endógena resulta em uma proteína hipermanosilada e, consequentemente, imunogênica. A cepa de Pichia pastoris Glycoswitch tem a maquinaria para expressar e secretar altas quantidades de enzima com glicosilação humanizada. Nesse trabalho, descrevemos o processo genético para expressar a ScASNaseII no meio extracelular pela P. pastoris Glycoswitch, e também os parâmetros bioquímicos, perfil cinético, citotoxicidade contra células leucêmicas e a interferência da glicosilação na atividade da enzima obtida. Nossos dados mostram que a cepa aplicada foi capaz de expressar ScASNaseII no meio extracelular passível de purificação de proteínas contaminantes com apenas um passo cromatográfico. A atividade específica para asparagina foi 218,2 UI/mg e a atividade glutaminásica representou 3,1% da atividade asparaginásica. Os parâmetros cinéticos foram KM = 120,5 µM e a eficiência catalítica de 3,8 x 105 M-1s-1. Análises por meio de gel nativo sugerem uma conformação tetramérica de aproximadamente 150 kDa. Essa é uma nova estratégia de produzir essa enzima de forma extracelular, com mais facilidade de purificação e com melhores propriedades biotecnológicas

L-asparaginase is an efficient inhibitor of tumor development, used in chemotherapy sessions against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) tumor cell; its use results in 90% complete remission of the disease in treated patients. Saccharomyces cerevisiae's L-asparaginase II (ScASNaseII) has a high potential to overcome the side effects of bacteria L-asparaginase, but the endogenous production of it results in hypermannosylated immunogenic enzyme. However, Pichia pastoris Glycoswitch strain has the machinery to express and secrete high quantity of the enzyme and with humanized glycosylation. Here we describe the genetic process to acquire the ScASNaseII in the extracellular medium expressed by P. pastoris Glycoswitch, and the biochemical properties of the resultant enzyme, kinetic profile, cytotoxicity against ALL cell line and the interference of glycosylation in its activity. Our data show that the strain employed is able to express extracellular asparaginase active and possible to be purified of contaminant proteins using a single chromatographic step. The specific activity using asparagine was 218.2 IU.mg-1 and the glutaminase activity represents 3.1% of its asparaginase activity. The kinetics parameters were KM=120.5 µM and a catalytic efficiency of 3.8x105 M-1s-1. The Native-PAGE suggested a tetrameric protein conformation, with approximately 150 kDa. This is a novel strategy to produce this enzyme extracellularly, easier to purify and with better biotechnological properties

Caracterização de L-Asparaginase de Erwinia chrysanthemi melhorada por evolução sintética de proteí­nas e otimização das condições de produção / Characterization of Erwinia chrysanthemi L-Asparaginase improved by synthetic protein evolution and optimization of production conditions

A L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) é uma enzima tetramérica bacteriana, utilizada em sessões de quimioterapia. Essa enzima depleta os aminoácidos asparagina (Asn) e glutamina (Gln), transformando-os em aspartato (Asp) ou glutamato (Glu), respectivamente, e em amônia. Contudo, a L-ASNase pode induzir resposta imune, levando à produção de anticorpos antiasparaginase, uma causa importante de resistência ao medicamento. Uma L-ASNase ideal seria aquela com alta atividade e estabilidade e baixo potencial imunogênico, porém, as L-ASNases utilizadas na terapêutica não reúnem essas características simultaneamente. Por essa razão, o presente trabalho utilizou técnicas de mutagênese randômica, a fim de criar uma nova proteoforma de L-ASNase de E. chrysanthemi com uma melhor atividade e estabilidade. Além disso, foram estudadas condições de cultivo em agitador metabólico, visando à otimização de condições de produção. Foi criada uma biblioteca com 1.056 clones, e desses, 19 foram selecionados por apresentarem atividade superior ou igual à enzima selvagem quando dosada em extrato bruto. Dentre eles, dois mutantes se destacaram por apresentarem a atividade específica glutaminásica diferente da enzima selvagem. Análises in silico indicam que o mutante 9-6D apresentou diminuição de desordem estrutural e epítopos imunogênicos. O mutante 9-5F demonstrou uma diminuição da porcentagem da atividade glutaminásica quando comparada a enzima selvagem. O estudo de produção do mutante 9-5F indicou que a temperatura de indução, seguida da concentração do indutor, são os parâmetros mais relevantes para a otimização da produção de L-ASNase de E. chrysanthemi mutante

L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) is a bacterial tetrameric enzyme used in chemotherapy sessions that deplete asparagine (Asn) and glutamine (Gln), transforming them into Aspartate (Asp) or glutamate (Glu), respectively, and ammonia. However, L-ASNase can induce immune response leading to the production of anti-asparaginase antibody, an important cause of drug resistance. Ideally, L-ASNase would be one with high activity, high stability and low immunogenic potential, but the L-ASNases commercially available today do not present these characteristics simultaneously. For this reason, this study used techniques of random and site-directed mutagenesis in order to create a new proteoform of E. chrysanthemi L-ASNase with improved activity and stability. In addition, culture conditions were studied in a metabolic shaker, aiming at the optimization of production conditions. A library with 1,056 clones was created, and of these clones, 19 were selected because they had activity superior or equal to the wild-type enzyme in crude protein extract. Among them, 2 mutants stood out for having different glutaminase specific activity in relation to wild-type enzyme. The 9-6D mutant also showed decreased structural disorder and immunogenic epitopes. The 9-5F mutant demonstrated a decrease in percentage of glutaminase activity when compared to the wild-type enzyme. The production study of 9-5F mutant indicated that the induction temperature followed by the inductor concentration are the most relevant parameters for the production optimization of E. chrysanthemi mutant L-ASNase

Metilación de genes supresores de tumores en pacientes venezolanos con leucemia linfoide aguda / Methylation of tumor suppressor genes in Venezuelan patients with acute lymphoid leukemia

La leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) es la neoplasia maligna hematológica más común en niños. Se ha podido demostrar un perfil específico de metilación de islas CpG en las regiones promotoras de genes supresores de tumor, que desempeña un papel crítico en el silenciamiento transcripcional y puede ofrecer nuevas opciones de tratamiento. Con el objetivo de determinar este perfil, se analizó el estado de metilación de las islas CpG de la región promotora de cuatros genes supresores de tumor asociados a diferentes etapas del proceso de carcinogénesis, dos p15 y p73 asociados a la regulación del ciclo celular y a la apoptosis y dos E-cadherin y RARβ2, involucrados en la migración y metástasis tumoral. Se analizaron 30 muestras de sangre periférica mediante modificación del ADN con bisulfito sódico y reacción en cadena de la polimerasa específica para metilación y se obtuvo en todos los pacientes, al menos la metilación de un gen (100%) y frecuencias específicas de metilación de 76,67% para el gen p73 (23 pacientes); 56,67% para el p15 (7 pacientes); 16,67% para el E-cadherin (5 pacientes) y 20,0% para el RARβ2 (6 pacientes). La frecuencia de metilación observada en los genes p15 y p73, sugiere el papel importante de esos genes en la patogenia de la LLA y su probable utilidad en el asesoramiento de riesgo y en la selección del tratamiento más adecuado.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematologic malignancy in children. A specific methylation profile of CpG islands in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes has been demonstrated, which plays a critical role in transcriptional silencing and may offer new treatment options. In order to determine this profile, the methylation status of CpG islands was analyzed in the promoter region of four tumor suppressor genes associated with different stages of carcinogenesis: two associated with the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis: p15 and p73; and two involved in migration and tumor metastasis: E-cadherin and RARβ2. Thirty peripheral blood samples were analyzed by modification of DNA with sodium bisulfite and chain reaction polymerase specific for methylation. In all patients, the methylation of at least one gene was observed (100%) and additionally, there were specific methylation frequencies of 76.67% for the p73 gene (23 patients); 56.67% for p15 (seven patients); 16.67% for E-cadherin (five patients) and 20.0% for the RARβ2 (six patients). The frequency of methylation observed in p15 and p73 genes suggests the important role of these genes in the pathogenesis of ALL and its usefulness in risk assessment and the selection of the most appropriate treatment.

Estudos estruturais e funcionais de Tsa1 de Saccharomyces cerevisiae: um modelo biológico para o estudo de inibidores de crescimento celular para leucemia linfoide aguda / Functional and structural evaluation of Tsa1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae: a biological model for study of cellular growth inhibitors for acute lymphocytic leukemia

As peroxirredoxinas (Prx) são enzimas antioxidantes que se destacam pela capacidade de decompor uma grande variedade de hidroperóxidos com elevada eficiência (106-108M-1s-1), mantendo essas moléculas em níveis adequados à homeostase celular. Entretanto, já foi demonstrado que em diversos tipos tumorais os níveis de Prx são extremamente aumentados e experimentos envolvendo sua inativação resultam na diferenciação ou apoptose de células tumorais. Recentemente, foi descoberto um diterpenóide denominado adenantina que seria o primeiro inibidor para as Prx1 e Prx2 de humanos e foi demonstrada que sua aplicação em células de leucemia mieloide aguda promoveu diferenciação ou apoptose dessas células. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho apresenta duas vertentes: 1) A caracterização das alterações estruturais e funcionais promovidas pela ligação da adenantina ao sítio ativo das Prx utilizando Tsa1 de Saccharomyces cerevisiae como modelo biológico, em função da sua alta similaridade com Prx2 de humanos; 2) Avaliação da atividade antitumoral dose dependente de adenantina sobre as linhagens celulares REH e MOLT-4 de leucemia linfoide aguda. No que concerne à primeira linha de investigação, nossos resultados revelam que Tsa1 é suscetível à inibição por adenantina, uma vez que o tratamento reduziu em ~66 % a velocidade de decomposição de peróxido de hidrogênio. Adicionalmente, a mutação da Thr44 de Tsa1, pertencente à chamada tríade catalítica, por uma Ser resultou em uma proteína mais suscetível a alterações na estrutura secundária e à inibição da atividade peroxidásica em função da ligação com adenantina, apresentando uma diminuição de ~85% na velocidade de reação. Características semelhantes foram observadas para a proteoforma Tsa2 de S. cerevisiae, que carreia naturalmente a substituição da Thr44 pela Ser. Análises de sequências de Prx em bancos de dados revelaram que majoritariamente proteínas contendo Ser são encontradas em organismos procariotos, muitos deles patogênicos. Finalmente, demonstramos por meio de ensaios citotoxicidade que as bactérias Staphylococcus aureus e Staphylococcus epidermidis, que possuem uma Ser na tríade catalítica, têm seu crescimento inibido pelo tratamento com adenantina (IC50 de 460µM e 77µM, respectivamente), enquanto que para Escherichia coli, que possui Thr nessa posição, a toxicidade da adenantina foi bastante baixa (não foi possível determinar o IC50 nas condições utilizadas). Dessa forma, os dados apresentados neste trabalho demonstram o potencial da utilização da adenantina tanto como antibiótico quanto como antileucêmico

Peroxiredoxins (Prx) are antioxidant enzymes which stand out due the ability to decompose a wide variety of hydroperoxides with high efficiency (106-108M-1s-1) maintaining these molecules at suitable levels to cellular homeostasis and participating in several signaling events. However, it has been shown that, in many tumor types, Prx levels are extremely increased and experiments involving its inactivation have resulted in differentiation or apoptosis of tumor cells. It was recently found a diterpenoid, called adenanthin, that would be the first human Prx1 and Prx2 inhibitor and it was demonstrated that its application in acute myeloid leukemia cells was able to promote differentiation or apoptosis. In this context, this work presents two lines of research: 1) Characterization of structural and functional changes promoted by adenanthin binding to Prx active site using Tsa1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as biological model, due to its high similarity to human Prx2. 2) Evaluation of adenanthin dose-dependent antitumor activity over the acute lymphoid leukemia cell lines REH and MOLT-4. As regards the first line of research, our result reveal that Tsa1 is susceptible to inhibition by adenanthin, since the treatment with this binder reduced the hydrogen peroxide decomposition velocity in ~ 66%. In addition, the replacement of Thr44 from Tsa1, aminoacid belonging to the so-called catalytic triad, by a Ser resulted in a protein more susceptible to alterations in secondary structure and to peroxidase activity inhibition in function of adenanthin binding, presenting ~85% of decrease in reaction velocity. Similar characteristics were observed for Tsa2 proteoform from S. cerevisiae, which naturally carries the substitution of Thr44 by Ser. Prx sequences analyzes in databases revealed that mostly Ser-containing proteins are found in prokaryotic organisms, many of them pathogenic ones. Finally, we demonstrate through cytotoxicity assays that the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which have a Ser in catalytic triad, have their growth inhibited by adenanthin treatment (IC50 of 460µM and 77µM, respectively), whereas for Escherichia Coli, which has Thr at that position, the tocyxicity of adenanthin was quite low (it was not possible to determine the IC50 under the used conditions). Regarding the second line of investigation, we found that adenanthin is able to induce the death of leukemic cell lines REH and MOLT-4, and for the last one, there was an unexpected proliferation of cells treated by the longest incubation period (72 hours), characterizing a possible indication of differentiation process. In this sense, the data presented here demonstrate the potential of adenanthin use in both antibiotic and antileukemic treatment

Evaluación ecocardiográfica longitudinal en pacientes con leucemia linfoide aguda que recibieron antraciclinas durante la edad pediátrica / Longitudinal ecocardiographic assesment in patients with acute lymphoid leukemia that received anthracyclines during childhood

Introducción: La cardiotoxicidad tardía causada por el tratamiento del cáncer puede ser un problema frecuente en los sobrevivientes por lo que se decidió realizar un estudio ecocardiográfico longitudinal de la función cardiovascular con el objetivo de detectar las alteraciones causadas por la administración de antraciclinas en pacientes que tuvieron una leucemia linfoide aguda en la edad pediátrica. Métodos: se incluyeron todos los pacientes atendidos por esta leucemia en el Servicio de Pediatría del Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología ,desde abril de 2002 hasta febrero de 2015, que además debían tener al menos 2 evaluaciones ecocardiográficas posteriores a la conclusión del tratamiento. A todos se les realizó examen físico, se tomaron datos generales de las historias clínicas, se les calculó la dosis acumulativa de antraciclinas y el tiempo transcurrido hasta la realización de la evaluación. De los ecocardiogramas realizados se tomaron las medidas de aurícula izquierda, ventrículo derecho, fracción de eyección y fracción de acortamiento. Resultados : predominaron los signos de cardiotoxicidad tardía subclínica con una media de 9 años después de suspendido el tratamiento y estuvieron afectados ambos sexos por igual. En el primer ecocardiograma realizado, tres años después de la suspensión, la mayor frecuencia de alteraciones estuvieron en las medidas de aurícula izquierda y ventrículo derecho. Los estudios se repitieron cada tres años y en el tercer estudio fue más frecuente la afectación de las fracciones de eyección y de acortamiento. Se encontró que había relación estadísticamente significativa entre el uso de mayores dosis de antraciclinas y las alteraciones ecocardiográficas. Conclusiones: las afectaciones de la función cardiovascular fueron ligeras y aumentaron durante el seguimiento(AU)

Introduction Cancer therapy could cause frequent cardiac toxicity, so we decided to perform an echocardiographic longitudinal study of the late effects caused by anthracyclines administration in patients that were treated for acute lymphoid leukemia during childhood. Methods All the patients admitted in the Pediatric Service of Institute of Hematology and Immunology, with acute lymphoid leukemia since april 2002 until february 2015 and that have at least two echocardiographic studies after finishing therapy. A complete physical exammination was performed to all of them and the cumulative dose of anthracyclines received was calculated and also time until evaluation. From the echocardiograms were taken the measurements of left auricle, right ventricle, ejection fraction and shortening fraction. Results: the main findings were signs of late subclinical cardiotoxicity with a mean of 9 years after therapy completion and there were no sex predominance. In the first echocardiogram performed three years after stopping therapy there were more alterations in the measures of left auricle and right ventricle. The studies were repeated every three years and in the third one there were more alterations in ejection fraction and shortening fraction and there also were a statiscally significative relation between cumulative anthracyclines doses and echocardiographic findings. Conclusions: There were found subclinical cardiac dysfunction that increases as time goes by(AU)

Supresión del eje hipotálamo-hipófisis-suprarrenal después de la quimioterapia de inducción en niños con leucemia linfoide aguda / Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression following induction chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / Supressão do eixo hipotálamo-hipófises-suprarrenal depois da quimioterapia de indução em crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda

Introducción: se ha informado insuficiencia suprarrenal (IS) en 46 % a 81,5 % de los niños con leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) que reciben esteroides durante la quimioterapia. Materiales y métodos: para evaluar la frecuencia de dicha IS se hizo un estudio prospectivo de 40 pacientes menores de 18 años (media: 8,5 años) con diagnóstico nuevo de LLA. Se les midieron el cortisol basal y la adrenocorticotropina (ACTH). Todos recibieron prednisolona (60 mg/m2/día) durante 5 semanas; tres días después de suspendidos los esteroides se hizo una prueba de estimulación con 1 µg de ACTH. En los que tenían el cortisol anormal (<18 µg /dL) se hicieron pruebas de estimulación con ACTH en los días 7, 14 y 30 hasta que se normalizó el cortisol (>18 µg /dL). Resultados: en 29 de los 40 pacientes (72,5 %) se halló IS después del primer estímulo con ACTH, pero al día 30 en todos se había normalizado el nivel de cortisol. Todos los pacientes con IS fueron mayores de 5 años (HR: 4,69; IC95 %: 1,44-15,32; p = 0,011). Conclusiones: los esteroides empleados durante el tratamiento de la LLA pueden causar IS, y el riesgo es más alto en los niños mayores de 5 años. Se sugiere hacer seguimiento durante los episodios de estrés porque es posible que requieran suplencia con esteroides.

Background: Adrenal insufficiency has been reported in 46 % to 81.5 % of children receiving corticosteroids for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methodology: To assess the frequency of such insufficiency, 40 patients under 18 years (mean: 8.5 years) with new diagnosis of ALL were studied. Base-line cortisol and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels were measured, and they received 5-week therapy with prednisolone. After 3 days off-steroid therapy, a stimulation test with ACTH 1 µg was done. In patients with abnormal cortisol (<18 µg /dL) new ACTH tests were done and cortisol levels were determined at days 7, 14 and 30 until cortisol post-stimulation levels were normal. Results: Three days after the last steroid dose 29/40 (72.5 %) had adrenal insufficiency after ACTH stimulus. At day 30 no one had abnormal cortisol levels after ACTH stimulus. All patients with adrenal suppression were over 5 years (HR 4.69; CI95 %: 1.44-15.32; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Steroids used during ALL treatment may cause adrenal insufficiency. Patients over 5 years are at high risk of developing adrenal suppression. We suggest to follow-up those patients with stress episodes after induction chemotherapy as steroid supplementation may be indicated.

Introdução: informou-se insuficiência suprarrenal (IS) em 46 % a 81,5 % das crianças com leucemia linfoide aguda (LLA) que recebem esteroides durante a quimioterapia. Materiais e métodos: para avaliar a frequência de dita IS se fez um estudo prospectivo de 40 pacientes menores de 18 anos (média: 8,5 anos) com diagnóstico novo de LLA. Se lhes mediram o cortisol basal e a adrenocorticotrófica (ACTH). Todos receberam prednisona (60 mg/m2/dia) durante 5 semanas; três dias depois de suspendidos os esteroides se fez uma prova de estimulação com 1 µg de ACTH. Nos que tinham o cortisol anormal (<18 µg /DL) fizeram-se provas de estimulação com ACTH nos dias 7, 14 e 30 até que se normalizou o cortisol (>18 µg /DL). Resultados: em 29 dos 40 pacientes (72,5 %) achouse IS depois do primeiro estímulo com ACTH, mas ao dia 30 em todos se tinha normalizado o nível de cortisol. Todos os pacientes com IS foram maiores de 5 anos (HR: 4,69; IC95 %: 1,44-15,32; p = 0,011). Conclusões: os esteroides empregados durante o tratamento da LLA podem causar IS, e o risco é mais alto nas crianças maiores de 5 anos. Sugere-se fazer seguimento durante os episódios de estresse porque é possível que requeiram suplência com esteroides.

Hipopotasemia recurrente y de difícil control en un paciente con leucemia linfoide aguda / Relapsing and difficult to control hypokalemia in a patient with acute lymphoid leukemia / Hipopotassemia recorrente e de difícil controle num paciente com leucemia linfoide aguda

La hipopotasemia es un alteración hidroelectrolítica que en ocasiones es difícil de controlar, y cuando es muy grave puede producir complicaciones que amenazan la vida; presentamos el caso de una paciente con leucemia linfoide aguda en recaída, que presentó parálisis flácida asociada a hipopotasemia grave; como causa se encontró una tubulopatía renal asociada a infiltración leucémica de los riñones.

Hypokalemia is an electrolytic disorder, in some occasions difficult to control. When severe, it may be life-threatening. We report the case of a patient with relapse of acute lymphoid leukemia, who presented to the hospital with flaccid paralysis associated with severe hypokalemia. The cause was a tubulopathy associated with leukemic infiltration of the kidneys.

A hipopotassemia é um alteração hidroeletrolítica que em ocasiões é difícil de controlar, e quando é muito grave pode produzir complicações que ameaçam a vida; apresentamos o caso de uma paciente com leucemia linfoide aguda em recaída, que apresentou paralisia flácida sócia a hipopotassemia grave; como causa se encontrou uma tubulopatia renal associada a infiltração leucêmica dos rins.

Complicaciones asociadas y análisis de supervivencia de niños con leucemias agudas tratados con el protocolo BFM-95 / Associated complications and survival analysis in children with acute leukemia treated with BFM-95 protocol

Objetivo: Determinar las complicaciones y porcentaje de supervivencia de niños con leucemia linfoide y mieloide aguda tratados con el protocolo Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 95 (BFM-95) de Enero de 2008 a Diciembre de 2010 en el Hospital Infantil "Los Ángeles". Materiales y métodos: Una cohorte retrospectiva fue diseñada para evaluar a niños tratados con el protocolo BFM-95 durante tres años en el Hospital Infantil "Los Ángeles". La información fue obtenida de los datos demográficos del paciente, complicaciones asociadas con el protocolo BFM-95 y supervivencia. Los datos fueron recolectados de las historias médicas y los reportes de fallecimiento del hospital. Las variables nominales fueron presentadas como proporciones y las variables continuas fueron expresadas como medias y desviaciones estándares. El análisis de supervivencia fue realizado por el método Kaplan-Meier. Los datos fueron analizados usando el programa Statistical Package for Social Sciences, versión 17,0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Resultados: Cincuenta y dos niños fueron incluidos en este estudio. De todo el grupo, 47 (90,4%) tuvieron leucemia linfoide aguda y 5 (9,6%) leucemia mieloide aguda. Treinta y cinco (67,3%) presentaron complicaciones. Veintitres niños (65,7%) mostraron complicaciones infecciosas siendo las más frecuentes. El análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier mostró que los pacientes con complicaciones tuvieron un tiempo más corto de supervivencia comparado a los pacientes sin complicaciones. Conclusiones: La incidencia de complicaciones fue elevada. El análisis Kaplan-Meier reveló diferencias entre la leucemia linfoide aguda y leucemia mieloide aguda de acuerdo a las complicaciones.

Objective: To determine complications and survival percentage in children suffering from acute lymphoid and myeloid leukemia treated with Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 95 (BFM-95) protocol from January 2008 to December 2010 at Los Ángeles Children Hospital. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort was designed to evaluate children treated with BFM-95 protocol during three years at Los Ángeles Children Hospital. The Information was obtained from the patient demographics, complications associated with BFM-95 protocol and survival. Data were collected from medical records and hospital decease reports. Nominal variables were presented as proportions and the continuous variables were presented as means and standard deviations. The survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, 17.0 version software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Results: Fifty two children were included in this study. From the whole group, 47 (90.4%) had acute lymphoid leukemia and 5 (9.6%) had acute myeloid leukemia. Thirty five (67.3%) presented complications. Twenty three children (65.7%) had infectious complications, being the most frequent ones. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with complications have shorter survival time compared to patients with no complications. Conclusions: The incidence of complications was high in children treated with BFM-95 protocol. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed differences between acute lymphoid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia according to complications.

Effects of total body irradiation-based conditioning on allogeneic stem cell transplantation for pediatric acute leukemia: a single-institution study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of total body irradiation (TBI), as a conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), in pediatric acute leukemia patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2011, 28 patients, aged less than 18 years, were treated with TBI-based conditioning for allo-SCT in our institution. Of the 28 patients, 21 patients were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, 75%) and 7 were diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML, 25%). TBI was completed 4 days or 1 day before stem cell infusion. Patients underwent radiation therapy with bilateral parallel opposing fields and 6-MV X-rays. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival outcomes. RESULTS: The 2-year event-free survival and overall survival rates were 66% and 56%, respectively (71.4% and 60.0% in AML patients vs. 64.3% and 52.4% in ALL patients, respectively). Treatment related mortality rate were 25%. Acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease was a major complication; other complications included endocrine dysfunction and pulmonary complications. Common complications from TBI were nausea (89%) and cataracts (7.1%). CONCLUSION: The efficacy and toxicity data in this study of TBI-based conditioning to pediatric acute leukemia patients were comparable with previous studies. However, clinicians need to focus on the acute and chronic complications related to allo-SCT.

Disfunción neurocognitiva en niños con leucemia linfoide aguda / Neurocognitive disfunction in children with acute lymphoid leukemia

Introducción: se ha comunicado afectación neurocognitiva como secuela a largo plazo en pacientes curados de leucemia linfoide aguda que fueron irradiados durante el tratamiento. Más recientemente esto se plantea también para los tratados solo con quimioterapia. Sobre estos últimos no se conocen antecedentes en Cuba de estudios de este tipo. Métodos: se estudió el rendimiento intelectual de 77 pacientes entre 6 y 32 años (54 con tratamiento y 23 con sobrevida de más de 5 años) que no recibieron radiaciones durante su tratamiento, y de un grupo (n=20) de adolescentes sanos. Se utilizó la escala de inteligencia de Wechsler para niños (Wisc) y para adultos (Wais). Resultados: los resultados mostraron que las escalas totales, tanto de los enfermos como de los curados, se encontraba dentro de parámetros normales. Sin embargo, se obtuvieron notaciones significativamente más bajas en los pacientes curados que en los sanos en las pruebas de semejanzas, dígitos, ordenar figuras y diseño de bloques; también en el factor de distractibilidad. Los pacientes que se encontraban enfermos en la evaluación obtuvieron puntuación más baja que los normales solo en la prueba de dígitos. Conclusiones: estos resultados sugieren afectaciones subclínicas específicas relacionadas con la capacidad de asociación de conceptos verbales, memoria inmediata, capacidad de planeamiento estratégico, organización visoespacial, análisis y síntesis como procesos del pensamiento, así como una dificultad atencional en los pacientes curados como secuela de la quimioterapia

Introduction: neurocognitive disorders have been reported as long-term side effects in patients free from acute lymphoid leukemia that had undergone radiotherapy. These disorders have been likewise reported in those cases in which the patients had undergone chemotherapy. No antecedents about previous study on the latter in Cuba are known. Methods: the intellectual performance of 77 patients who did not undergo radiotherapy during their treatment, ages between 6 and 32 years old, was studied (54 of them under treatment and 23 had survived for more than 5 years); and the intellectual performance of a group of healthy teenagers (n=20). The Wechsler intelligence scales for children (WISC) and for adults (WAIS) were used. Results: the results showed that the Intelligence Quotient of the sick patients and of those already recovered was among standard parameters. However, the recovered patients obtained results significantly lower than those of healthy patients in the Similarity, Digit, Figures Arrangement and Design of Blocks subtests, as well as in the distractibility factor. The patients that were ill during the tests obtained lower results than the healthy ones only in the Digit subtest. Conclusions: these results suggest the presence of specific subclinical disorders related to the capacity of associating verbal concepts, short-term memory, capacity of strategic planning, visualspatial organization, analysis and synthesis such as thinking processes as well as an attention difficulty in recovered patients as a result of chemotherapy

Farmacogenética aplicada al tratamiento de la leucemia linfoide aguda / Pharmacogenetics applied to the treatment of acute lymphoid leukemia

Las enzimas de biotransformación y eliminación de los fármacos en pacientes con leucemia linfoide aguda tienen una acción determinante en el efecto terapéutico de los medicamentos antineoplßsicos. La presencia y actividad de estos complejos enzimáticos está codificada genéticamente y sujeta a variaciones alélicas, cuyas frecuencias son variables en las diferentes poblaciones humanas. Este polimorfismo genético influye sobre la efectividad terapéutica de los medicamentos y condiciona la carencia de toxicidad o presencia de esta, que en ocasiones puede ser fatal. Las enzimas tiopurin-metil-transferasa, metilén-tetrahidrofolato-reductasa y glutatión-tranferasa son sistemas destoxificadores de algunos de los quimioterápicos empleados en el tratamiento de la leucemia linfoide aguda. En este trabajo se revisan las características genéticas de estas enzimas, la frecuencia de sus polimorfismos y las implicaciones clínicas de su expresión. De igual modo se discute la importancia y los beneficios del genotipaje previo al inicio del tratamiento, con el fin de modificar las dosis de los medicamentos para optimizar su efecto terapéutico y disminuir su toxicidad. La farmacogenética constituye un área de creciente interés que ha tenido un desarrollo considerable en los últimos años, su conocimiento e implementación nos colocará en el camino de la medicina personalizada

The biotransformation and elimination enzymes of drugs in patients suffering from acute lymphoid leukemia play a decisive role on the therapeutical effect of anti-neoplastic drugs. The presence and activity of these enzymatic complexes are genetically coded and subjected to allele variations, the frequency of which is variable in the different human populations. This genetic polymorphism has an impact on the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs and determines the lack or the existence of toxicity that may sometimes become lethal. The enzymes called thiopurine-methyltransferase, methylen-tetrahydropholate-reductase and glutathione-transferase are detoxifying systems of some of the chemotherapeutic drugs that are used for the treatment of acute lymphoid leukemia. This paper reviewed the genetic characteristics of the enzymes, the frequency of polymorphisms and the clinical implications of their expression. Similarly, the importance and the benefits of genotyping before the treatment were discussed in order to change the drug doses to maximize the therapeutic effect and reduce toxicity. Pharmacogenetics has experienced great development in the last few years and draws growing interest; the knowledge about and the implementation of this discipline will take us to the customized medicine