[Specific features of stem cell (CD34+) subvariant of acute lymphoblast cell leukemia in children]. / Osobennosti stvolovokletochnogo (CD34+) podvarianta ostrogo limfoblastnogo lekoza u detei.

The authors have examined 134 children with acute lymphoblast cell leukemia (ALCL) who were treated at the Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Russian Cancer Research Center, in January 1990 to November 1999, and followed up till March 1, 1999. The mean duration of follow-ups was 57.46 +/- 2.87 months. The minimum follow-up was 4 months. The immunophenotypical features of stem cell immunological subvariant of ALCL identified from the presence of 10% or 15% of CD34+ lymphoblast cells were similar in the leukemia clone. There is evidence for the isolation of the least mature, stem-cell immunological subvariant of ALCL in children. The immunophenotypic features of stem-cell ALCL in children were as follows: the expression of myeloid antigens (linear and different marker leukemias) and the higher rates of involvement of B-cell leukemias. The clinical and hematological features of stem-cell versus CD34-negative ALCL in children were the low levels of leukocytes (p = 0.009) and blast cells (p = 0.018) in the peripheral blood at diagnosis. At the same time, stem-cell ALCL showed a poorer prognosis. Moreover, blast cell CD34 antigen expression deteriorated prognosis for pre-pre-B (common) immunological variant of ALCL (p = 0.035). Intensified ALCL treatment programmes improved relapseless survival of patients with stem-cell ALCL (p = 0.0042).

[Cardioxane in pediatric oncohematology]. / Kardioksan v detskoi onkogematologii.

The tolerance of cardioxan (JCRF-187, dexrazoxan), an ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid analog and a Chiron Company product, administered to pediatric oncohematological patients, is discussed. The drug was used in 37 cases of acute lymphoblastic and non-lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease treated by polychemotherapy including anthracycline antibiotics administration. No untoward side-effects or inhibition of the therapeutic effect were observed.

[Use of long-acting L-asparaginase (PEG-asparaginase) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Primenenie L-asparaginazy prolongirovannogo deistviia (PEG-asparaginazy) pri ostrom limfoblastnom leikoze.

Twenty-five patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [15 adults and 10 children] received standard treatment in which regular L-asparaginase was replaced for L-asparaginase of prolonged action [PEG-asparaginase]. The drug was administered once in two weeks in a dose 2500 IU/m2 for remission induction and consolidation or as a component of maintenance therapy. It was found that the response to primary PEG-asparaginase treatment or its use in the disease relapses produced the same response as regular L-asparaginase, being superior in convenience and feasibility of outpatient use. Side effects in the form of hypoproteinemia, hepatic toxicity and toxic pancreatitis [in children, 9 and 1 adults, respectively] were moderate and disappeared after 10-20-day discontinuation of the drug.