� Childhood cancer survival varies greatly between high-income (80%) versus Low and middle-income countries (LMIC) (<20%). To bridge this gap, provision of aggressive curative treatment has been prioritized in latter countries. Palliative care (PC), by contrast, has received little or no attention � When children who can no longer be cured from cancer continue aggressive treatment, they may suffer unnecessarily from pain, discomfort and low quality-of-life during prolonged periods � In many LMIC, families are often not given the opportunity to participate in decision-making whether they want to extend the life of their children or focus on relieving pain and discomfort � This case report illustrates difficulties that Indonesian families may face when their child is diagnosed with cancer, receives intensive chemotherapy despite poor prognosis and severe side-effects, and is not informed about choices of treatment children have during final illness � This study highlights the importance to start PC immediately at diagnosis. Both physical and psychosocial wellbeing of patients need to be closely monitored through regular symptom burden assessments. Training on open communication in PC is required in universities and hospitals to enable shared decision-making and improve quality-of-life of children and their families

Background Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is the second most prevalent cancer among Indonesian children. In contrast to those of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a number of studies reported unfavorable outcomes following the initiation of cytostatic protocols for childhood AML. In addition, our previous study showed that Gram-negative bacterial infection constitutes the major cause of treatment-related mortality in children with AML. These findings raised a question on the prognostic role of diagnostic lymphopenia, which represents the immunosuppressive state, as demonstrated in adult patients with solid tumors. Methods A retrospective cohort study, which involved children younger than 18 years of age with the newly diagnosed, non-M3 AML, was conducted. These children were admitted to Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during the period of 2011–2019 and received National Pilot Protocol (2011–2016), Pediatric AML Protocol (2016–2018), and International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (PODC) Protocol with prephase (2018–2019). One-year overall survival (OS) was analyzed, using diagnostic absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC0) of more than 4.5 × 109/L and less than 4.5 × 109/L as the determinants, in accordance with those reported in a number of studies on adult AML. Results Sixty-five children, which consisted of 41 (63%) children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L and 24 (37%) children with ALC0 of less than 4.5 × 109/L, were eligible for this study. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, compared with those of diagnostic white blood cell and peripheral blood myeloblast counts, treatment-related pneumonia, gastrointestinal tract infection, and sepsis were the most responsible factors for the occurrence of death within the first year of treatment [relative risk (RR), 2.82; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.99–8.04; P = 0.05]. OS analysis showed that 43% and 16% of children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L and less than 4.5 × 109/L, respectively, were alive within the first year of treatment. Cox-regression analysis, however, failed to reach statistical significance [hazard ratio (HR), 0.63; 95% CI, 0.33–1.18; P = 0.15]. Conclusion Despite lacked statistical significance, our study showed the superior one-year OS in children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L. Our findings, therefore, might indicate the prognostic role of infection and lymphocyte-mediated immune response in childhood AML.

Background Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) is the second most prevalent cancer among Indonesian children. In contrast, to those of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a number of studies reported unfavorable outcomes following the initiation of cytostatic protocols for childhood AML. In addition, our previous study showed that Gram-negative bacterial infection constitutes the major cause of treatment-related mortality in children with AML. These findings raised a question on the prognostic role of diagnostic lymphopenia, which represents the immunosuppressive state, as demonstrated in adult patients with solid tumors. Methods A retrospective cohort study, which involved children younger than 18 years of age with the newly diagnosed, non-M3 AML, was conducted. These children were admitted to Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, during the period of 2011–2019 and received National Pilot Protocol (2011–2016), Pediatric AML Protocol (2016–2018), and International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP) Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries (PODC) Protocol with prephase (2018–2019). One-year overall survival (OS) was analyzed, using diagnostic absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC0) of more than 4.5 × 109/L and less than 4.5 × 109/L as the determinants, in accordance with those reported in a number of studies on adult AML. Results Sixty-five children, which consisted of 41 (63%) children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L and 24 (37%) children with ALC0 of less than 4.5 × 109/L, were eligible for this study. Of these 65 children, 56 (86%) children received Cytosine arabinoside in the first week of treatment (National Pilot Protocol and Pediatric AML Protocol), while 9 (14%) children did not (SIOP PODC Protocol with prephase). OS analysis showed that 44% and 19% of children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L and ALC0 of less than 4.5×109/L, respectively, were alive within the first year of treatment. Cox-regression analysis, however, failed to reach statistical significance [hazard ratio (HR), 0.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.33–1.18; P = 0.15]. Conclusion Despite lacked statistical significance, our study showed the superior one-year OS in children with ALC0 of more than 4.5 × 109/L. Our findings, therefore, might indicate the prognostic role of infection and lymphocyte-mediated immune response in childhood AML.