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Aim. To analyze the specific features of recurrences of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in children after standard therapy with daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and to develop further programmed treatment policy. Subjects and methods. The study included 9 patients with recurrent APL. The recurrences developed significantly more frequently in a very high-risk group (patients with minimal residual disease being preserved after the intensive therapy phase). Induction used arsenic trioxide (ATO) and/or standard chemotherapy + ATRA; ATO monotherapy was in consolidation. CD34+ cells were mobilized until molecular remission was achieved with high-dose Ara-C and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Pretransplantation conditioning involved melfalan as a basic drug in combination with high-dose Ara-C (5 pts), treosulfan (1 pt) or bisulfan (1 pt). Six patients received gemtusumab ozogamicin, 3-9 mg/m2, at different stages of therapy. Results. Before therapy one patient died; 8 patients achieved the second molecular remission; CD34+ cell mobilization and sampling were effective in 7 cases. Five patients were in long-term molecular remission after autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoHSCT). Follow-up was 23-40 months. One patient is being prepared for transplantation. Following autoHSCT, another patient with a developed repeat recurrence died from complications due to related partially compatible transplantation. Visceral, including cardiological, toxicity of therapy was insignificant. In the APL-2003 protocol, overall and event-free survival rates were 93±3 and 76±6%, respectively. Conclusion. The application of ATO and autoHSCT in recurrent APL makes it possible to achieve and preserve the second molecular remission in case of insignificant extrahematological toxicity. Russian clinics should have access to ATO.

During the last decade in Russian clinics significant success in treatment of children with Hodgkin lymphoma has been reached. However, the using of doxorubicin in combination with mediastinal radiotherapy in cases of initial mediastinum involvement contributes to cardiomyopathy occurrence in different time from ending therapy. We have evaluated the cardiac status in 42 children with Hodgkin lymphoma after chemoradiotherapy. Evaluation of cardiac function was performed using standard M-mode echocardiography (with calculation ejection fraction- EF, left ventricular shortening fraction — FS) and electrocardiography with estimation of rate, rhythm and QTc duration. Reduced contractility was detected in 5 (11.9 %) children after chemoradiotherapy, that requires cardiac function monitoring and cardiologist’s consultation.

Treatment results of children and adolescents with Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) treated at the Russian Children Clinical Hospital (Moscow) was described. 47 children and adolescents with HL were treated by modified DAL-HD-90 protocol. 45 (95.74 %) patients achieved remission. With a median follow-up time of 57.6 month 6-years overall, event-free and relapse-free survival were 95 ± 3, 91 ± 4 and 95 ± 3 %, respectively. The age 14 years and older and the 2 type nodular sclerosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma were the poor prognostic factors.

Therapy results of 61 patients (children and adolescents, 2—17 years of age; a median — 8.76 years) with B-cells non-Hodgkin lymphomas III—IV stage and B-cell acute leukemia (B-NHL/B-ALL), treating according to protocol with polichemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies against B-cell receptor CD20 — rituximab (Mabthera, Hoffmann La Roche) applications, are presented. The protocol consist of cytoreductive phase and 6 polychemotherapy courses, similar to original protocol B-NHL-BFM 90, with exception of decreasing methotrexate dosage in 2 first courses from 5 to 1 g/m2/24 hours. Rituximab — 375 mg/m2 IV — in Day 0 first 4 courses was given.Four patients have died within first 3 weeks of therapy, 2 were primary refractory patients and 55 patients have achieved complete remissions. There was no case of remission death; relapse has developed only at one patient (neuroleukemia in patient with Burkitt lymphoma). 54 patients (88%) are in continuous complete remission. Overall and event-free survival rate were 0,90±0,04 with median follow-up after therapy ending 34 months (12—53 months). Authors discuss tactics of such combined therapy, features of remission registration, considering that at third of patients, residual mass was long-term detected, and for which assessment besides CT/MRT a positron-emission tomography (PET) and/or a repeated biopsy were done. Also it is possible to conclude that with use of target therapy chemotherapy intensity of such tumors can be reduced. Authors concluded that in cases of target therapy efficacy criteria should be modified, and it is necessary to use as much as possible informative technique to remission control (PET, minimal residual disease assessment with use of molecular-genetic methods).

The use of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) drastically improved the results of therapy for acute promyelocytic leukeimia (APL). The high efficiency of the Russian protocol APL-93—98 applied to 62 children and adolescents with APL (event-free and overall survival (EFS and OS) were 84±5% respectively with a relapse rate of 7%) was achieved, by administering the high cumulative dose of daunoruicin (495 mg/m2) and single doses of АТRА (45 mg/m2). In this connection, the APL-2003 protocol attempted to reduce both acute and chronic toxicity of the therapy, by decreasing the cumulative dose of daunorubicin to 405 mg/m2 and the single dose of АТRА to 25 mg/m2 under regular control of minimal residual disease via molecular monitoring of the specific transcript PML/RARα. Analysis of the results of treatment in 61 patients aged 1.3 to 17 years (median 11.3) showed that despite of the reduced protocol intensity, the efficiency of therapy did not generally reduce — EFS and OS were 79±6 and 93±3%, respectively. The likelihood of the development of a relapse was significantly affected by molecular resistance, i.e. the retention of the transcript PML/RARα before a phase of maintenance therapy: the recurrence risk in this group was 57% whereas there were no differences in all cure rates between the patients depending on baseline leukocytosis. All 6 patients with relapses were treated with arsenic trioxide, resulting in not only clinical and hematological, but also molecular remissions; thereafter the patients received myeloablative therapy and autologous hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. The second remission lasted 3 to 24 months. Thus, reducing the cumulative dose of anthracyclines and the dose of АТRА did not make the results of the therapy for APL worse. The monitoring of minimal residual disease before and during maintenance therapy is a mandatory component of successful treatment in APL patients. Arsenic trioxide is an effective agent for the treatment of APL relapses.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is one of predominant childhood non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) subtypes and consists 25—30 %. The study purpose was to investigate outcomes in children and adolescents with LBL treated with protocol NHL-BFM-90 and 95 in the Moscow region. 58 primary patients (m–40, f–18) with T- and B-LBL were enrolled from 05. 1991 to 08. 2008 (aged 1.5–21.6 years; median 11.0 years). Fifty-two (90 %) patients were treated with ALL-like therapy protocol NHL-BFM-90 or 95 for non-B-NHL and 6 (10 %) — NHL-BFM-90 for B-NHL. The complete response (CR) rate was 94 and 83 %, respectively. 5-years event-free survival (5y-EFS) was 0.80 ± 0.06 (median of observation 4.1 years) and 0.67 ± 0.19 (5.1 years), respectively (p > 0.05). 5-years overall survival (5y-OS) was 0.85 ± 0.05 and 0.80 ± 0.06 respectively (p > 0.05). The situation without mediastinal involvement was a factor unfavorable prognosis for T-LBL: 5y-EFS — 0.56 ± 0.17 vs. 0.90 ± 0.05 (p = 0.036). Thus the NHL-BFM-90 and 95 for non-B-NHL protocols are effective therapeutic regimes for pediatric LBL and obtained long-term results are comparable with international data.

Introduction of biosimilars in clinical practice results in substantial reduction of direct medical costs. However, limited data concerning safety and tolerance of biosimilars exist, especially in children. We conducted double blind randomized trial comparing immediate tolerance of locally manufactured filgrastim (LeucostimR, “Biocad”, Russia) with original formulation (“Neupogen”, “Roche”, Switzerland) in children with various hematologic and oncologic diseases. Ten patients (4 F; 6 M) with a median age of 9.5 y (range 5—16 y) in whom G-CSF was indicated either by protocol or clinically were included into the study. All patients were scheduled to receive both formulations of G-CSF in order determined by randomization with permuted blocks. Pain was assessed with visual analog scale, ranging sensation of pain from 0 to 10 points. There were 41 injections of LeucostimR and 39 of Neupogen, and а median number of points attributed was 1.134 (0—10), and 1.661 (0—9) respectively (p=0,669). Intrapatient pain scores were quite consistent and did not differ by more than 1 point between any two injections. Other immediate toxicities were negligible or inexistent. Our study clearly demonstrates that both formulation of filgrastim are equally well tolerated.

Introduction. The main features of bone marrow blasts cells in Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia (BL) are L3 morphology, mature immunophenotype of blasts with surface IgM expression, and presence of typical MYC gene rearrangements.The aim of the study was to show discrepancy examples in laboratory signs of BL.Patients and methods. 10 patients (8 boys and 2 girls) aged 1 to 18 years were included in the present study. The inclusion criterion was the identification of discrepancies between flow cytometric, morphological and cytogenetic data.Results. In 2 cases there were no rearrangements of the MYC gene. In 2 patients, the L2 morphological variant went against the presence of typical MYC gene rearrangements. In one case, undifferentiated blasts cells were described by morphology together with presence of surface IgM, and atypical genetics. In 8 patients, there was no expression of surface IgM. Of these, patients with absence of cytomorphological data cytometric and genetic data were controversial.Сonclusion. The cases presented in this study and the cases described in the literature demonstrate the importance of an attentive and comprehensive approach in evaluating the results of laboratory tests in the diagnosis of BL.

Introduction. Surface immunoglobulin expression is a main immunophenotypic criteria of mature subtype of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Although the majority of such cases represents Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma, it was shown for several times that membrane IgM could be detected in the absence of other mature lymphomas signs.The aim of the study was to evaluate heterogeneity of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with surface IgM expression and to assess correspondence of BIV EGIL ALL subtype with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) bone marrow dissemination.Materials and methods. Immunophenotypic, cytomorfologic and genetic data of 54 BIV-ALL cases were analyzed.Results. Among the studied patients 39 had BL, while others belonged to B-cell precursor ALL (BCP-ALL). All BL patients and none of BCP-ALL patients carried C-MYC rearrangement while in BCP-ALL group in 8 cases and in any BL cases KMT2A rearrangements were found. None of BCP-ALL children had L3 morphology according to FAB classification.Conclusions. B-lineage ALL with surface IgM expression is rather heterogeneous group of cases including typical BL and rare cases of BCP-ALL even with KMT2A-rearrangements. Combination of all available diagnostic technologies will allow precise split of these two different disease and select the appropriate treatment scheme.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective approach to cure numerous malignant and nonmalignant diseases. This method is more available now, respectively the number of survivors – recipients of HSCT increases every year. Among long-term complications of HSCT secondary solid cancers are one of the most life-threatening. We discuss different types of secondary solid tumours after HSCT and describe international recommendations of their screening and diagnostic. Several case reports from the single center could illustrate these serious late effects.

Bone marrow tumor blasts immunophenotyping is an essential part of Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia (BL) and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) differential diagnostics. Nevertheless immunoglobulin heavy and light chains detection on the cell surface could meet several biological and methodological pitfals. Thus the aim of the present study was development of additional BL immunophenotypic criteria. Leukemic blasts antigen profile in 21 BL cases and 84 children with BCP-ALL was compared in a retrospective way. Antigen expression patterns in BL and BCP-ALL were significantly different. It was shown that even in cases with weak immunoglobulin M expression these two tumor types could be distinguished well by complex immunophenotype analysis. In present study all cases of CD34-negative B-lineage ALL without myeloid coexpression and with high CD20-positive cells proportion belonged to BL.

The results of two consecutive multicenter clinical trials enrolled 241 patient with childhood mature B-cells non-Hodgkin lymphomas/leukemia are presented. Patients received treatment according B-NHL 2004mab protocol (n = 83) and B-NHL 2010M (n = 158) with combined immunochemotherapy (ICT) in Russian and Belarus pediatric clinics from 2004 to 2015 years. Primary patients with different mature B-NHL (Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL and PMBCL)) aged from 2 to 18 years are included in the studies.Protocol B-NHL 2004mab for treatment of children and adolescents with B-NHL/B-AL, stage III and IV, includes a combination of chemotherapy (PCT) and rituximab – an antibody against the B-cells receptor CD20. PCT courses similar to those in the B-NHL BFM90 protocol (group III) with the exception of methotrexate dose in induction courses, reduced to 1 g/m2 /24 h in order to reduce toxicity. Rituximab (Mabthera, 375 mg/m2 /h) used for the first time in the treatment of children and adolescents with B-NHL. Of the 83 patients included, clinical remission was achieved in 77 (92.8 %). With a median follow time of 51.6 months, remission continued in 23 (85.2 %) patients with B-AL, in 32 (88.9 %) patients with LB and 19 (95.0 %) patients – with DLBCL. With median follow time of 65.2 months, event-free and overall survival was 84 ± 6 and 82 ± 8 %, respectively.Based on previous experience in order to further optimize B-NHL treatment, new protocol B-NHL 2010M with effect-adapted therapy and improvement of stratification risk group criteria was proposed. Overall survival in patients of 1st and 2nd risk groups with full implementation of diagnosis and treatment is approaching 100 %. In interim analysis of 3rd risk group patients, pOS was 88 ± 3 %. The incidence of induction death (infections, metabolic complications) remains within 2.7 % (n = 4); refractory cases (n = 2; 1.3 %) and relapses (n = 4; 2.7 %) developed after 2–4 months of remission, were observed only in patients with Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia. In this cases 2nd line therapy and auto-HSCT is not allowed to achieve remission. All PMBCL and DLBCL patients were achieved remission, but in 50 % of cases only after second line, radio- and cell therapy.The authors conclude that a combined immunochemotherapy of B-NHL in children and adolescents, including the target drug (rituximab) and 5-day courses of cytostatic therapy, highly effective, despite a reduce induction intensity. Therapy for the analyzed protocol requires qualitative dynamic efficacy monitoring and timely correction of therapy. In order to solve a refractory problem and further reduce the toxicity, necessary to continue research using fundamental discoveries in recent years.