Impact of persistent minimal residual disease post‐consolidation therapy in children and adolescents with advanced Burkitt leukaemia: a Children's Oncology Group Pilot Study Report
British Journal of Haematology | April 9, 2015 | Volume: 170 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 367-371
SummaryPatient‐specific primers from 10 children/adolescents with Burkitt leukaemia (BL) ± central nervous system disease who were treated with French‐British‐American/Lymphome Malins de Burkitt 96 C1 plus rituximab were developed from diagnostic blood/bone marrow. Minimal residual disease (MRD) was assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction at the end of induction (EOI) and consolidation (EOC). Seventy per cent (7/10) and 71% (5/7) were MRD‐positive at EOI and EOC, respectively, with no disease recurrences. MRD after induction and consolidation did not predict relapse and subsequent therapy appeared to eliminate MRD. Thus, assessing MRD at a later time point is warranted in future trials to determine its clinical significance.