Citations

Abstract The dic(9;12)(p12;p11.2) has been described as a rare cytogenetic abnormality in pediatric precursor B-cell ALL. Initial studies suggested that the rearrangement is associated with a favorable outcome, and recent studies demonstrated the presence of a PAX5-ETV6 fusion gene was associated with this cytogenetic abnormality. Twenty cases with a cytogenetic dic(9;12) were identified in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) cytogenetics databases. FISH analysis with the ETV6-RUNX1 (TEL-AML1) probes was done on 12 of these samples. Five cases were positive for fusion, indicating a cryptic t(12;21)(p13;q22), and also had loss of the ETV6 probe from the chromosome 12 not involved in the t(12;21). Seven cases were negative for fusion and had loss of an ETV6 signal, although one of the latter had a diminished ETV6 signal identified. To determine whether both PAX5-ETV6 and ETV6-RUNX1 rearrangements occurred in some patients, a diagnostic sample from each patient was analyzed by RT-PCR for the PAX5-ETV6 and ETV6-RUNX1 fusion genes. Primers from exon 3 of PAX5 and exon 3 of ETV6 were used for the PAX5-ETV6 analysis and from exon 5 of ETV6 and exon 4 of RUNX1 for the ETV6-RUNX1 analysis. Of the 20 cases, only 8 were RT-PCR positive for the PAX5-ETV6 fusion with the above primers; however, an additional 2 were RT-PCR positive with alternate primers, and all 10 of these were negative for the ETV6-RUNX1 fusion by RT-PCR. Of the remaining 10 patients, 9 were RT-PCR positive for the ETV6-RUNX1 fusion, including all of the ETV6-RUNX1 cases positive by FISH. The gene rearrangement associated with the dic(9;12) in these cases is not known. One patient was negative for both fusions by RT-PCR, negative by FISH for ETV6-RUNX1 rearrangement, yet had loss of an ETV6 signal. No cytogenetic differences could be seen between the 2 groups, either in the appearance of the dic(9;12) or in the other abnormalities identified. These results demonstrate the presence of two mutually exclusive dic(9;12) rearrangements in pediatric ALL; one associated with ETV6-RUNX1 rearrangement and one resulting in PAX5-ETV6 fusion. Both PAX5-ETV6 and ETV6-RUNX1 rearrangements are associated with a favorable prognosis. However, molecular analysis of the dic(9;12) patients must be performed to determine whether the dicentric chromosome results in PAX5-ETV6 fusion or whether the case has ETV6-RUNX1 fusion.

Abstract Results from clinical trials may change with time. Data presented in initial abstracts or early reports are often different from what appears in subsequent publications, sometimes due to a more rigorous analysis (as in initial response rates) or to maturity of data (as in reports of survival). Survival curves usually provide projected data based on Kaplan-Meier analyses. Such data may change with time when unexpected events occur (as, for example, relapse after T-cell depleted allogeneic transplants) or more patients advance to the initially projected time point. For AML, several groups have reported that there are very few relapses beyond 3 years. At issue is the optimal time for reporting these survival data. Table 1 reports data from 6 consecutive clinical trials addressing induction and post-remission questions in AML patients performed by ECOG. These data compare the 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for the identical cohorts of patients as presented at 1 year and at 3 years after completion of the study accrual. PC 486 was a phase II study of induction therapy followed by allogeneic or autologous transplant without prior consolidation. E 3489 was a US intergroup study in which patients received post-induction therapy using an allogeneic transplant (allo), an autologous transplant (auto) or chemotherapy (chemo). E1490 was a study in older adults of induction and consolidation with GM-CSF or placebo. E2491 was an intergroup study comparing ATRA induction versus standard chemotherapy in patients with APL. After consolidation, patients were randomized to maintenance with ATRA versus observation (obs). E3993 was a study in older adults comparing priming with GMCSF or placebo. E4995 was a phase II study of intensified induction and consolidation followed by an autologous transplant. For the same cohorts of patients the 3-year OS tends to decrease as the time from completion of study accrual increases. When looking at the DFS, while a decrease may also occur, in several studies there was an improved DFS with time (for example, in E2491, chemo to ATRA, or in E3993 with GM-CSF priming). There were no changes in either OS or DFS beyond 3 years (data not shown). Table 1: Three-year OS and DFS Presented at Different Time Points OS (%) DFS (%) Study One year Three years One year Three years PC 486 auto or allo HSCT 42 → 38 45 → 39 E 3489 allo HSCT 50 → 50 48 → 47 auto HSCT 47 → 46 39 → 39 chemo 56 → 51 36 → 36 E 1490 Induction / consolidation GM-CSF 23 → 22 23 → 24 placebo 15 → 12 16 → 15 E2491 APL induction+ maintenance ATRA + ATRA 87 → 84 72 → 73 ATRA + obs 83 → 80 61 → 60 chemo + ATRA 81 → 75 43 → 58 chemo + obs 54 → 45 16 → 18 E 3993 Induction/consolidation GM-CSF priming 13 → 11 5 → 10 placebo 14 → 14 9 → 9 E 4995 Induction / consolidation / auto HSCT 54 → 48 63 → 53 In conclusion: For large cooperative group studies, treatment results in AML presented one year from conclusion of study accrual are unlikely to dramatically alter the overall results. Nonetheless, some differences may occur, both in OS and DFS, warranting caution in interpreting the data and comparing with other published reports. Such differences are likely to be even greater if data are presented upon completion of study accrual, prior to one year - although, in a cooperative group setting, this should be balanced against the need to release data for future planning. Publication of interim data, before conclusion of the study accrual, may be misleading and are to be strongly discouraged. Three years appear to be the appropriate time for the publication of definitive survival data.

Abstract Abstract 573 Outcomes for children with relapsed ALL remain poor, especially when relapses occur early (<36 months) following initial diagnosis. A factor contributing to poor outcomes is much lower rates of successful induction of second remission (CR2). CD22 is almost universally expressed in children with B-cell precursor (BCP) ALL and we previously demonstrated the safety of adding the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody, epratuzumab, to reinduction chemotherapy in children with first marrow relapse (Raetz et al, JCO 2008 26:3756-62) (COG ADVL04P2). The primary aim of the second part of the COG ADVL04P2 study was to determine if addition of epratuzumab to an established chemotherapy platform improves rates of CR2 in individuals with BCP ALL and early bone marrow relapse. Children, adolescents and young adults, ages 2–30 years with first early marrow relapse of BCP ALL, with or without extramedullary disease, were eligible for this study. The primary study endpoint was CR2 rate at the end of the first block of chemotherapy plus epratuzumab as compared to the 67% CR2 rate for historical controls (COG AALL01P2; Raetz et al, JCO 2008 26:3971-8) treated with the same chemotherapy without epratuzumab. For addition of epratuzumab to be deemed effective, an improvement in CR2 rate of 13% (67% vs. 80%) was required. Because there is a significant difference in CR2 rate between patients with very early (<18 months from diagnosis) vs. early (18 to <36 months from diagnosis) relapse, the statistical design used a model to account for potential differences in time to relapse between these studies. ADVL04P2 had several stages. In part A, epratuzumab was given alone for 4 doses twice weekly in an upfront window to assess safety and response, followed by AALL01P2 chemotherapy plus epratuzumab weekly during the first block of therapy. In part B, patients received the AALL01P2 3-block platform chemotherapy plus epratuzumab (360 mg/m2/dose) during block 1. Initially during part B, epratuzumab was administered weekly for 4 doses starting on day 1 based on pharmacokinetic (PK) data from adults with lymphoma. However, ADVL04P2 PK data showed that the half-life of epratuzumab was much shorter in children with ALL. Thus, ADVL04P2 was amended to give epratuzumab twice weekly for 8 doses, starting on day 1. This report focuses on ADVL04P2 part B and includes results of both the weekly (B1) and twice weekly (B2) epratuzumab dosing schedules. Between 1/07 and 1/11, 116 patients (114 eligible) were enrolled; 54 on B1 and 60 on B2, including 23 (B1) and 19 (B2) very early relapses. Median age at relapse was 10.2 years for the B1 cohort and 8.4 years for the B2 cohort. Concomitant extramedullary disease was present in 3 and 9 of the B1 and B2 patients, respectively. At the end of block 1, 48 B1 patients and 50 B2 patients were evaluable for response with CR2 achieved in (31/48) 65% of B1 and (33/50) 66% of B2 patients. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was measured by flow cytometry in a COG reference laboratory at the end of block 1. Among the 62 pooled B1 and B2 patients who achieved CR2 and had MRD data available at the end of block 1, 26 (42%) (14/31 B1 and 12/31 B2) were MRD negative (< 0.01%), which was significantly higher than the 25% with chemotherapy alone on AALL01P2 (one-sided p=0.001). The addition of epratuzumab to reinduction chemotherapy was well tolerated with no significant increase in the baseline toxicity observed with the platform regimen alone with either schedule. Toxic deaths occurred in 3 patients (2.6%) during block 1 in part B (2 in B1, 1 in B2), compared to 2.4% with block 1 chemotherapy alone. PK analyses in a cohort of B2 patients showed that the epratuzumab trough serum concentration steadily increased to 501 ± 149 mcg/mL before the final dose on day 25 (n=26). The mean serum half-life of epratuzumab was 17.0 ± 4.9 days (n=17) and was shorter than the value of 23 days observed in adults treated with epratuzumab for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. No patient developed human anti-human antibodies. Epratuzumab, as given on the B1 and B2 schedules was tolerable in combination with chemotherapy in pediatric and young adult patients with early relapsed CD22-positive BCP ALL, but did not improve CR2 rates when compared to historical controls treated with chemotherapy alone. However, among patients who attained a complete remission, those treated with epratuzumab were significantly more likely to become MRD negative as compared to those treated without epratuzumab. Disclosures: Borowitz: BD Biosciences: Research Funding. Goldenberg:Immunomedics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties. Wegener:Immunomedics: Employment.

Abstract Introduction: The therapy of relapsed/refractory AML remains poor and new treatment options are sorely needed. The Leukemia Committee of ECOG devised a randomized phase II trial of 3 novel regimens to determine overall response rates could be improved. Methods: Patients between the ages of 18 and 70 years with a prior diagnosis of AML who relapsed <1 year after initial achievement of complete remission (CR) or who were refractory to initial induction therapy (<2 courses) or to first reinduction after a relapse (<1 course) were eligible for this trial. Eligible patients were randomized equally to one of three regimens described in Table 1 below. The primary endpoint was achievement of a morphologic complete remission (CR) or a CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi). A 2 stage statistical design was planned with 18 patients (assuming 16 eligible) to be accrued in the first stage. If at least 3 CR+CRi were seen among the 16 eligible patients, an additional 19 patients (assuming 17 eligible) would be entered in the second stage. If 8 or more CR+CRi were seen in the 33 eligible patients, this would be considered evidence of a promising response rate. Results: This study activated October 16, 2008 and closed August 2, 2013 with a total of 92 patients accrued (91 eligible). The eligibility criteria were amended during the study to lower the upper age limit from 70 to 65 years because 6 treatment related deaths occurred in the initial 27 patients accrued to the FLAM regimen. All of these patients died of septic shock or multi-organ failure and 5 of the 6 died within 1 month of the start of therapy. Most of these patients were over age 65 ( 53, 62, 67, 68, 69 and 69 years). At the first stage analysis, of the first 16 eligible patients accrued to each arm there were 2 CR and 2 CRi in the CT arm, 2 CR and 2 CRi in the FLAM arm and 2 CR in the sirolimus-MEC arm. Thus, the sirolimus-MEC arm was closed to accrual with a total of 20 eligible patients and second stage accrual continued for the CT and FLAM arms. Among the 35, 36 and 20 eligible patients accrued to arms A, B and C, respectively, there were 2 CR and 3 CRi in the CT arm, 6 CR and 4 CRi in the FLAM arm, and 2 CR and 1 CRi in the sirolimus-MEC arm. All 10 CR or CRi of the FLAM arm were among the first 33 eligible patients, therefore FLAM was the only regimen to achieve our target. The overall response rates for arms A, B and C were 14% (90% CI 7.1% - 34.7%), 28% (90% CI 16.1% - 43.0%) and 15% (90% CI 4.2% - 34.4%), respectively. Among the 92 patients accrued, there were 5, 10 and 2 grade 5 events within 30 days of the end of therapy in arms A, B and C, respectively. The vast majority of these deaths were attributed to infection and multi-organ failure except two which were secondary to disease. Conclusion: In this high risk group of AML patients the FLAM regimen showed an encouraging response rate. A randomized phase II trial has also recently been completed exploring its use in the front-line setting with newly diagnosed high-risk AML. While the FLAM regimen was excessively toxic in elderly patients with relapsed or refractory disease, it is a suitable option for younger patients in this setting. Arm A: CT Carboplatin 150 mg/m2/day over 24 hours by continuous infusion IV for 5 days (days 1-5) Topotecan 1.6 mg/m2/day over 24 hours by continuous infusion IV for 5 days (days 1-5) Arm B: FLAM Flavopiridol 30 mg/m2 for ½ hour followed by 60 mg/m2 over 4 hours IV per day for 3 days Cytarabine 667 mg/m2 over 24 hours by continuous infusion IV for 3 days (days 6-8) Mitoxantrone 40 mg/m2 IV over 1-2 hours (day 9) Arm C: Sirolimus-MEC Sirolimus 12 mg by mouth on day 1, followed by 4 mg by mouth daily for 8 days (days 2-9) Mitoxantrone 8 mg/m2/day over 15 minutes IV for 5 days (days 4-8) Etoposide 100 mg/m2/day over 1 hour IV for 5 days (days 4-8) Cytarabine 1000 mg/m2/day over 3 hours IV for 5 days (days 4-8) Table 2. Responses Table 1. Chemotherapy Regimens Regimen n Median age (range), years Responses (%) Deaths (first 30 days) (%) CT 35 55 (23-67) 5 (14%) 5 (14%) FLAM 36 62 (19-69) 10 (28%) 10 (28%) Sirolimus-MEC 20 52 (22-68) 3 (15%) 2 (10%) Disclosures Off Label Use: Sirolimus-potentiate chemotherapy Carboplatin-chemotherapy for AML treatment Topotecan-chemotherapy for AML treatment.

Abstract Abstract 579 Background: In AML, age and cytogenetics remain among the major prognostic factors. Age above 55 years and a complex karyotype (CK; ≥ 3 abnormal clones) or the presence of monosomy 7 (M7) are universally associated with unfavorable prognosis. Recent data from HOVON-SAKK (J Clin Onc 26: 4791) suggest that in patients under the age of 60 years, subgroups with poor risk versus very poor risk can be delineated based on the presence of a MK. MK was defined as either the presence of at least two autosomal monosomies or one monosomy plus at least one structural abnormality. Limited data exists regarding the impact of MK in AML patients over the age of 55 years. Methods: Data from 935 AML patients above age 55 enrolled on three prospective ECOG therapeutic clinical trials (E1490, E3993, E3999) between 1990 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed to identify those with MK with single and/or multiple monosomies, MK in the presence or absence of a CK, CK with/without MK, MK with/without M7, and normal karyotype (CN). CK was defined as ≥ 3 clonal abnormalities for the purposes of this study. Complete remission (CR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: The median age of evaluable patients was 68 years (range 56 – 93) with a male/female ratio of 391/299. Cytogenetic data were evaluable in 690 (74%) subjects. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities occurred in 399 (58%). Core-binding factor (CBF) abnormalities accounted for 16/399 (4%) whereas CK was detected in 181/399 (45%). MK was present in 172 (25%) evaluable cases, predominantly in the setting of CK (140/172, 81%). Overall CR was 44%. CR was achieved in 49% MK−, 29% MK+, 31% CK+, and 49% of CK−. Data for the combinations of MK and CK are presented in Table 1. Median follow-up for survivors was 5.0 years. OS at 4-years was 9% for all evaluable patients and 4y-DFS was 12% in those achieving CR. Median OS of MK+/CK+ (0.3y) was significantly worse (p<0.001) than MK+/CK−(0.6y), MK−/CK+ (0.8y), and MK−/CK−(0.9y). Median DFS of MK+/CK+ (0.3y) was also significantly poorer (p<0.001) than MK+/CK− (0.9y), MK−/CK+ (0.8y), and MK−/CK− (0.9y). M7 was present in 82 (13%) enrolled patients with 98% (80/82) of M7 occurring within a MK. CR was achieved in 31% of MK+/M7+ and 27% of MK+/M7−. Neither median OS nor DFS were significantly impacted by M7 status as noted in Table 2. Conclusions: AML patients above the age of 55 years have an unfavorable prognosis with the majority of patients harboring adverse clonal cytogenetic abnormalities and failing to achieve a CR. Fewer than 10% survive 4-years from diagnosis. Results from the ECOG experience demonstrate the prognostic predictive value of MK in older AML patients. In contrast to the data presented by the HOVAN-SAKK group, the prognostic value of MK in patients over 55 years is limited to those with MK in combination with CK. These results also demonstrate the failure of monosomy 7 to provide prognostic value in the setting of MK. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract The effect of 6-MP therapy on the duration of remissions induced by adrenal corticosteroids has been studied as a model for testing of new agents. Ninetytwo patients under age 20 entered the study and were accepted for analysis. Sixty-two (67 per cent) had complete or partial remissions induced by corticosteroids. Patients in remission were randomly assigned to maintenance therapy with either 6-MP or placebo. The median duration of 6-MP-maintained complete remissions was 33 weeks and for placebo, 9 weeks. A sequential experimental design was used to analyze remission times while the study was in progress. This resulted in the study being stopped after analysis of the remission times of 21 pairs of patients (42 patients). Overall survival was not significantly different for the two treatment programs, since patients maintained on placebo were treated with 6-MP when relapse occurred. The activity of the known active antileukemic compound 6-MP was readily detected by this experimental design without compromise of optimal survival. Such a design should prove useful for the evaluation of new agents and also permit study of the remission maintenance activity of a compound separately from its remission inducing activity.

Abstract Background. Transfusion of blood products is an integral component of the management of patients with acute leukemias. However, high-quality evidence and clinical trial data to support specific practices of blood product transfusion in this population are limited. We hypothesized that there is wide variation in blood product transfusion practices among providers in North America who manage patients with acute leukemia. Methods. A 30-question web-based survey about transfusion practices was emailed to members of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance), and the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), and the Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) on 7/6/2015 with 4 subsequent weekly reminders. The distribution list included 9,859 recipients, of whom at least 741 were providers who treated patients with acute leukemia. Responses were anonymous, and the survey distribution was approved by the respective cooperative group chairs. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results. Of 254 responses received, 113 were excluded as they were returned by recipients not directly treating patients with acute leukemia. Another 30 responses were excluded due to incomplete data, leaving 111 responses (43.7%) eligible for the primary analysis. Of those, 109 responders were from North America representing 83 institutions in 33 states and the province of Ontario. Eighty-four of the included responders (75.7%) were physicians, and 44 (39.6%) were females. Median age of responders was 44 years (range, 26-76). A hemoglobin (Hb) level of ≤7 g/dL was the most commonly used threshold (44%) for red blood cell (RBCs) transfusions to asymptomatic stable hospitalized patients, followed closely by 8 g/dL (38%) (Figure 1). In the outpatient setting, the most commonly reported threshold was 8 gm/dL (49%) (Figure 1). Most providers reported that they "always" use leukocyte-reduced (93%) and irradiated (79%) RBCs. A platelet level of 10,000/µL was the threshold for platelet transfusions in the stable non-bleeding hospitalized patients cited by the majority of responders (76%) (Figure 2). This platelet level remained the most common threshold for platelet transfusions for non-bleeding patients in the outpatient setting (49%), although 31% of responders reported a higher threshold of 20,000/µL. A preference for single-donor apheresis platelets was reported by 81% respondents, and 57% use these products exclusively. Most providers (70%) reported always using irradiated platelets. With respect to cryoprecipitate and plasma infusions, nearly half of the respondents reported a threshold fibrinogen level of 100 mg/dL as a trigger for administering a product to a stable non-bleeding patient (Figure 3). The most commonly reported platelet threshold for performing a bone marrow biopsy (BMB) was 10,000/μL (69% of responders), followed by 20,000 (21%), 50,000 (6%), and 30,000 (4%). Therapeutic anticoagulation was held by most responders (80%) before performing a BMB. Most responders (73%) reported a platelet level of 50,000/µL as the lowest level for performing a lumbar puncture (LP) without prophylactic platelet transfusion. Conclusions. This survey demonstrates wide variability in blood product transfusion patterns among providers who treat patients with acute leukemias. A platelet level of 10,000/µL is the most common trigger for platelet transfusions for stable non-bleeding patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This, along with a platelet threshold of 50,000/µL for performing an LP, appear to be most widely accepted practices. Our findings emphasize the need to obtain high-quality data to develop consensus evidence-based guidelines for transfusion practices in acute leukemia with the goal of limiting unnecessary transfusions without compromising patient outcomes. Figure 1. The most common reported hemoglobin level thresholds for red blood cell transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Figure 1. The most common reported hemoglobin level thresholds for red blood cell transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Figure 2. The most common reported platelet level thresholds for platelet transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Figure 2. The most common reported platelet level thresholds for platelet transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Figure 3. The most common reported fibrinogen level thresholds for cryoprecipitate or plasma transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Figure 3. The most common reported fibrinogen level thresholds for cryoprecipitate or plasma transfusions in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Disclosures Sekeres: TetraLogic: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Steensma:Onconova: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Prebet:CELGENE: Research Funding. Komrokji:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incite: Consultancy; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; GSK: Research Funding. Stone:Merck: Consultancy; AROG: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Sunesis: Consultancy, Other: DSMB for clinical trial; Abbvie: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Roche/Genetech: Consultancy; Celator: Consultancy; Agios: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy. Erba:GlycoMimetics; Janssen: Other: Data Safety & Monitoring Committees; Sunesis; Pfizer; Daiichi Sankyo; Ariad: Consultancy; Millennium/Takeda; Celator; Astellas: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis; Incyte; Celgene: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties. Barbarotta:Celgene, BMS, Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Gore:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

AbstractBackgroundAcute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a unique leukemia subtype requiring specialized treatment including all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA). A prior report demonstrated worse outcome among young children <5 years old compared with older children.MethodsWe evaluated outcomes for pediatric patients (<18 years old; N = 83) with APL treated on North American intergroup study CALGB 9710 at Children's Oncology Group sites. Induction and consolidation included ATRA, cytarabine, and anthracyclines. Patients ≥15 years old were randomized to addition of arsenic trioxide (ATO) consolidation. All patients were randomized to ATRA maintenance with versus without oral chemotherapy.ResultsThe estimated 5‐year overall survival (OS) rate was 82%, and the event‐free survival (EFS) rate was 54%. Seven patients (8.4%) died during induction due to coagulopathy. Maintenance randomization demonstrated that addition of oral chemotherapy to ATRA significantly reduced relapse rate, but difference in EFS did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.12; 5‐year rates [95% CI]: 41% [17%–64%] ATRA only vs 72% [56%–88%] ATRA plus chemotherapy). There was no difference (P = 0.93) in EFS for age <5 years versus 5–12.99 years versus 13–17.99 years (5‐year rates: 56%, 47%, and 45%, respectively). Among adolescents 15–17.99 years old in the ATO randomization, there was a significantly lower relapse risk at 5 years for those receiving ATO (0% ATO vs 44% no ATO; P = 0.02).ConclusionOur data demonstrate that intensified ATRA, cytarabine, and anthracycline chemotherapy is effective for pediatric APL including very young patients, but early deaths and relapses remain barriers to cure. Further improvements are likely with incorporation of ATO into pediatric APL regimens.

Purpose Extramedullary disease (EMD) at diagnosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been recognized for decades. Reported herein are results from a large study of patients with AML who were treated in consecutive ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group frontline clinical trials in an attempt to define the incidence and clinical implications of EMD. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed AML, age 15 years and older, who were treated in 11 clinical trials, were studied to identify EMD, as defined by physical examination, laboratory findings, and imaging results. Results Of the 3,522 patients enrolled, 282 were excluded, including patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, incorrect diagnosis, or no adequate assessment of EMD at baseline. The overall incidence of EMD was 23.7%. The sites involved were: lymph nodes (11.5%), spleen (7.3%), liver (5.3%), skin (4.5%), gingiva (4.4%), and CNS (1.1%). Most patients (65.3%) had only one site of EMD, 20.9% had two sites, 9.5% had three sites, and 3.4% had four sites. The median overall survival was 1.035 years. In univariable analysis, the presence of any EMD ( P = .005), skin involvement ( P = .002), spleen ( P < .001), and liver ( P < .001), but not CNS ( P = .34), nodal involvement ( P = .94), and gingival hypertrophy ( P = .24), was associated with a shorter overall survival. In contrast, in multivariable analysis, adjusted for known prognostic factors such as cytogenetic risk and WBC count, neither the presence of EMD nor the number of specific sites of EMD were independently prognostic. Conclusion This large study demonstrates that EMD at any site is common but is not an independent prognostic factor. Treatment decisions for patients with EMD should be made on the basis of recognized AML prognostic factors, irrespective of the presence of EMD.