Reinduction therapy in 297 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first bone marrow relapse: A pediatric oncology group study

Many children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) develop a marrow relapse during or shortly following initial continuation chemotherapy. Achievement of a second complete remission is the initial step in a successful retreatment effort. Reinduction results using two or three drugs have been unsatisfactory, and previous reports of four-drug reinduction programs have included relatively small numbers of patients. Pediatric Oncology Group protocol 8303 was designed for patients with ALL in first marrow relapse during or within 6 months after cessation of chemotherapy. The results of reinduction therapy in 297 study patients are described here. Four-drug reinduction therapy consisted of daily oral prednisone, weekly vincristine and daunorubicin, and asparaginase three times weekly for 4 weeks (PVDA). CNS retreatment consisted of two doses of triple intrathecal chemotherapy. Of the 297 patients receiving reinduction, 245, or 82%, entered second complete remisssion, six died of infection or progressive disease, and 46 others still had M₂ or M₃ bone marrow status. Forty of these latter patients received four doses (during a 2-week period) of teniposide and cytarabine, after which 13 (32%) achieved complete remission status. Thus, the overall second complete remission rate with PVDA with or without teniposide/cytarabine was 258 of 297, or 87%. The treatment program was generally well tolerated. Among the numerous factors analyzed by using logistic regression, only female sex (P = .035), the presence of blasts on the blood smear at the time of relapse (P = .0002), and a length of initial complete remission less than 12 months (P = .021) were independent predictors of failure to enter second remission. We conclude that the intensive reinduction program described here is a highly effective first step in the delivery of salvage therapy to patients with AL in first marrow relapse. The current challenge is to develop improved continuation treatment for these children.