Adaptive functioning and academic achievement in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group

Jacola LM, Baran J, Noll RB, Willard VW, Hardy KK, Embry L, Hullmann SE, Larsen EC, Winick N, Kairalla JA. Adaptive functioning and academic achievement in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A report from the Children’s Oncology Group. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2021 Apr;68(4):e28913. doi: 10.1002/pbc.28913. Epub 2021 Jan 31. PubMed PMID: 33522102; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8212574.

Participants were 178 patients enrolled on a non-therapeutic clinical trial that aimed to characterize neurocognitive and functional outcomes (i.e., academic achievement and adaptive skills) following treatment for childhood HR B-ALL. Eligible patients were treated on Children’s Oncology Group AALL0232 clinical trial that included two treatment randomizations: methotrexate delivery (high- or escalating dose) and corticosteroid (dexamethasone or prednisone). Academic achievement and adaptive skills were evaluated at one time point, 8–24 months after completing treatment.