Reduced Morbidity and Mortality in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study

Dixon SB, Chen Y, Yasui Y, Pui CH, Hunger SP, Silverman LB, Ness KK, Green DM, Howell RM, Leisenring WM, Kadan-Lottick NS, Krull KR, Oeffinger KC, Neglia JP, Mertens AC, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Nathan PC. Reduced Morbidity and Mortality in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Oct 10;38(29):3418-3429. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.00493. Epub 2020 Jul 24. PubMed PMID: 32706634; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7527155.

Risk-stratified therapy, which modifies treatment on the basis of clinical and biologic features, has improved 5-year overall survival of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to 90%, but its impact on long-term toxicity remains unknown. We assessed all-cause and health-related late mortality (including late effects of cancer therapy), subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs), chronic health conditions, and neurocognitive outcomes among 6,148 survivors of childhood ALL (median age, 27.9 years; range, 5.9-61.9 years) diagnosed between 1970 and 1999. Therapy combinations and treatment intensity defined 6 groups: 1970s-like (70s), standard- or high-risk 1980s-like (80sSR, 80sHR) and 1990s-like (90sSR, 90sHR), and relapse/transplantation (R/BMT). Cumulative incidence, standardized mortality ratios, and standardized incidence ratios were compared between treatment groups and with the US population.