This study aimed to detect late sub-clinical patterns of cardiac dysfunction using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in children with cancer remission more than 12 months after the end of ...anthracycline treatment.
This prospective controlled study enrolled 196 children, 98 of which had been treated with anthracyclines (mean age 10.8 ± 3.6 years; 51% female) and 98 were age- and gender-matched healthy subjects in a 1:1 case-control design. Conventional echocardiographic variables were collected for left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV). STE analyses were performed in the LV longitudinal, radial, and circumferential displacements and in the RV free wall longitudinal displacement. The association between LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and the main clinical and biological parameters was evaluated.
After a mean time interval of 5.1 ± 3.2 years since the end of chemotherapy (mean cumulative anthracycline dose of 192 ± 96 mg/m2), conventional echocardiographic measures were normal. GLS was significantly decreased in the anthracycline group (−19.1% vs. −21.5%, P < 0.0001), with a higher proportion of children with abnormal values (Z-score < −2 in 18.6% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.0001). No association was found between GLS and clinical or biological parameters. Circumferential strain was significantly worse in the anthracycline group (−16.8% vs. −19.4%, P < 0.0001), and radial strain significantly better (+51.4% vs. +35.9%, P < 0.0001). RV conventional echocardiography and STE parameters were normal and not different between anthracycline and control groups.
The existence of a modified LV strain despite normal LV function in children treated with anthracyclines represents an important perspective for cardiomyopathy surveillance in childhood cancer survivors.
Clinical Trial Registration -ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02893787.
•Children have normal conventional echocardiograms 5-years after chemotherapy.•Global longitudinal strain and circumferential strain are lower in this population.•Radial strain is significantly higher.
Abstract Purpose The aim is to study statural growth in a large cohort of children with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treated with front-line imatinib. Methods Retrospective data from 81 children ...less than 18 years of age with CML identified in the French pediatric registry were analysed. Height was expressed as standard deviation score (SDS). Results A gradual decrease in height SDS was observed over time since starting imatinib. The height SDS was significantly lower 12 months and 24 months after the start of imatinib overall ( p < 10−4 ) irrespective of gender and pubertal age. The height SDS was significantly ( p < 10−4 ) lower 12 months after the start of imatinib in boys and girls, and in the prepubertal age group as well as in the postpubertal age group, respectively. A similar finding was observed in the subgroups of boys and girls starting imatinib at a prepubertal or postpubertal age. Loss in height SDS 12 months after the start of imatinib was of the same range in boys when compared to girls and in patients who started imatinib at a prepubertal age compared to those who started at a postpubertal age. Conclusion Growth velocity was altered during the first years of imatinib treatment in boys as well as in girls and in prepubertal age patients as well as in adolescents.
Background Primary immunodeficiencies are a rare group of inborn diseases characterized by a broad clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Substantial advances in the identification of the underlying ...molecular mechanisms can be achieved through the study of patients with increased susceptibility to specific infections and immune dysregulation. We evaluated 3 siblings from a consanguineous family presenting with EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferation at an early age (12, 7½, and 14 months, respectively) and profound naive T-cell lymphopenia. Objective On the basis of the hypothesis of a rare inborn immunodeficiency of autosomal recessive inheritance, we sought to characterize the underlying genetic defect. Methods We performed genome-wide homozygosity mapping, followed by whole-exome sequencing. Results We identified a homozygous inherited missense mutation in the gene encoding Coronin-1A (CORO1A) in the 3 siblings. This mutation, p. V134M, results in the substitution of an evolutionarily conserved amino acid within the β-propeller domain, which abrogates almost completely the protein expression in the patients' cells. In addition to a significant diminution of naive T-cell numbers, we found impaired development of a diverse T-cell repertoire, near-to-absent invariant natural killer T cells, and severely diminished mucosal-associated invariant T cell numbers. Conclusions Our findings define a new clinical entity of a primary immunodeficiency with increased susceptibility to EBV-induced lymphoproliferation in patients associated with hypomorphic Coronin-1A mutation.
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among adults from the French LEA childhood acute leukemia survivors' cohort was prospectively evaluated considering the type of anti-leukemic treatment ...received, and compared with that of controls. The metabolic profile of these patients was compared with that of controls. A total of 3203 patients from a French volunteer cohort were age- and sex-matched 3:1 to 1025 leukemia survivors (in both cohorts, mean age: 24.4 years; females: 51%). Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Metabolic syndrome was found in 10.3% of patients (mean follow-up duration: 16.3±0.2 years) and 4.5% of controls, (OR=2.49;
<0.001). Patients transplanted with total body irradiation presented the highest risk (OR=6.26;
<0.001); the other treatment groups also showed a higher risk than controls, including patients treated with chemotherapy only. Odd Ratios were 1.68 (
=0.005) after chemotherapy only, 2.32 (
=0.002) after chemotherapy and cranial irradiation, and 2.18 (
=0.057) in patients transplanted without irradiation. Total body irradiation recipients with metabolic syndrome displayed a unique profile compared with controls: smaller waist circumference (91
99.6 cm;
=0.01), and increased triglyceride levels (3.99
1.5 mmol/L;
<0.001), fasting glucose levels (6.2
5.6 mmol/L;
=0.049), and systolic blood pressure (137.9
132.8 mmHg;
=0.005). By contrast, cranial irradiation recipients with metabolic syndrome had a larger waist circumference (109
99.6 cm;
=0.007) than controls. Regardless of the anti-leukemic treatment, metabolic syndrome risk was higher among childhood leukemia survivors. Its presentation differed depending on the treatment type, thus suggesting a divergent pathophysiology. This study is registered at
.
Cardiovascular conditions are serious long-term complications of childhood acute leukemia. However, few studies have investigated the risk of metabolic syndrome, a known predictor of cardiovascular ...disease, in patients treated without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We describe the overall and age-specific prevalence, and the risk factors for metabolic syndrome and its components in the L.E.A. (Leucémie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent) French cohort of childhood acute leukemia survivors treated without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The study included 650 adult patients (mean age at evaluation: 24.2 years; mean follow-up after leukemia diagnosis: 16.0 years). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 6.9% (95% CI 5.1-9.2). The age-specific cumulative prevalence at 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of age was 1.3%, 6.1%, 10.8% and 22.4%, respectively. The prevalence of decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased triglycerides, increased fasting glucose, increased blood pressure and increased abdominal circumference was 26.8%, 11.7%, 5.8%, 36.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Risk factors significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in the multivariate analysis were male sex (OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.32-5.29), age at last evaluation (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.04-1.17) and body mass index at diagnosis (OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.01-1.32). The cumulative steroid dose was not a significant risk factor. Irradiated and non-irradiated patients exhibited different patterns of metabolic abnormalities, with more frequent abdominal obesity in irradiated patients and more frequent hypertension in non-irradiated patients. Survivors of childhood acute leukemia are at risk of metabolic syndrome, even when treated without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or central nervous system irradiation. A preventive approach with regular screening for cardiovascular risk factors is recommended. clinicaltrials.gov identifier:01756599.
Dexamethasone could be more effective than prednisolone at similar anti-inflammatory doses in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In order to check if this "superiority" of ...dexamethasone might be dose-dependent, we conducted a randomized phase III trial comparing dexamethasone (6 mg/m(2)/day) to prednisolone (60 mg/m(2)/day) in induction therapy. All newly diagnosed children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the 58951 EORTC trial were randomized on prephase day 1 or day 8. The main endpoint was event-free survival; secondary endpoints were overall survival and toxicity. A total of 1947 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were randomized. At a median follow-up of 6.9 years, the 8-year event-free survival rate was 81.5% in the dexamethasone arm and 81.2% in the prednisolone arm; the 8-year overall survival rates were 87.2% and 89.0% respectively. The 8-year incidences of isolated or combined central nervous system relapse were 2.9% and 4.5% in the dexamethasone and prednisolone arms, respectively. The incidence of grade 3-4 toxicities during induction and the frequency of osteonecrosis were similar in the two arms. In conclusion, dexamethasone and prednisolone, used respectively at the doses of 6 and 60 mg/m(2)/day during induction, were equally effective and had a similar toxicity profile. Dexamethasone decreased the 8-year central nervous system relapse incidence by 1.6%. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00003728.
Corticosteroid can induce osteonecrosis in children with leukemia. Few studies have been designed to assess the influence of a wide range of cumulative steroid dose on this side effect. Prevalence, ...risk factors of symptomatic osteonecrosis and its impact on adults' Quality of Life were assessed in 943 patients enrolled in the French "Leucémies de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent" (LEA) cohort of childhood leukemia survivors. During each medical visit, data on previous osteonecrosis diagnosis were retrospectively collected. Patients without a history but with suggestive symptoms were investigated with magnetic resonance imaging. The total steroid dose in equivalent of prednisone was calculated for each patient and its effect on osteonecrosis occurrence was studied in multivariate models. Cumulative incidence was 1.4% after chemotherapy alone versus 6.8% after transplantation (P<0.001). A higher cumulative steroid dose, age over ten years at diagnosis, and treatment with transplantation significantly increased the risk of osteonecrosis. A higher post-transplant steroid dose and age over ten years at time of transplantation were significant factors in the transplanted group. With patients grouped according to steroid dose quartile, cumulative incidence of osteonecrosis reached 3.8% in the chemotherapy group for a dose beyond 5835 mg/m(2) and 23.8% after transplantation for a post-transplant dose higher than 2055 mg/m(2). Mean physical composite score of Quality of Life was 44.3 in patients with osteonecrosis versus 54.8% in patients without (P<0.001). We conclude that total and post-transplant cumulative steroid dose may predict the risk of osteonecrosis, a rare late effect with a strong negative impact on physical domains of Quality of Life.
Asparaginase is an essential component of combination chemotherapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The value of asparaginase was further addressed in a group of ...non-very high-risk patients by comparing prolonged (long-asparaginase)
standard (short-asparaginase) native
asparaginase treatment in a randomized part of the phase III 58951 trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Children's Leukemia Group. The main endpoint was disease-free survival. Overall, 1,552 patients were randomly assigned to long-asparaginase (775 patients) or short-asparaginase (777 patients). Patients with grade ≥2 allergy to native
asparaginase were switched to equivalent doses of
or pegylated
asparaginase. The 8-year disease-free survival rate (±standard error) was 87.0±1.3% in the long-asparaginase group and 84.4±1.4% in the short-asparaginase group (hazard ratio: 0.87;
=0.33) and the 8-year overall survival rate was 92.6±1.0% and 91.3±1.2% respectively (hazard ratio: 0.89;
=0.53). An exploratory analysis suggested that the impact of long-asparaginase was beneficial in the National Cancer Institute standard-risk group with regards to disease-free survival (hazard ratio: 0.70;
=0.057), but far less so with regards to overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.89). The incidences of grade 3-4 infection during consolidation (25.2%
14.4%) and late intensification (22.6%
15.9%) and the incidence of grade 2-4 allergy were higher in the long-asparaginase arm (30%
21%). Prolonged native
asparaginase therapy in consolidation and late intensification for our non-very high-risk patients did not improve overall outcome but led to an increase in infections and allergy.
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