The evolution of clinical trials for infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

ABSTRACT: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants has a significantly inferior outcome in comparison with older children. Despite initial improvements in survival of infants with ALL since establishment of the first pediatric cooperative group ALL trials, the poor outcome has plateaued in recent years. Historically, infants were treated on risk-adapted childhood ALL protocols. These studies were pivotal in identifying the need for infant-specific protocols, delineating prognostic categories and the requirement for a more unified approach between study groups to overcome limitations in accrual because of low incidence. This subsequently led to the development of collaborative infant-specific studies. Landmark outcomes have included the elimination of cranial radiotherapy following the discovery

SUBMITTER: Kotecha RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4003413 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature