The EUTOS Long-Term Survival score was tested in 350 children with chronic myeloid leukemia in first chronic phase treated with imatinib and registered in the International Registry for Childhood Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. With a median follow up of 3 years (range, 1 month to 6 years) progression and/or death (whichever came first) occurred in 23 patients. For the entire cohort of patients the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 92% (95% CI: 87%–94%) and the 5-year survival accounting for chronic myeloid leukemia deaths was 97% (95% CI: 94%–99%). Of the 309 patients allocated to low (n=199), intermediate (n=68) and high (n=42) risk groups by the EUTOS Long-Term Survival score, events (progression and/or death) occurred in 6.0%, 8.8% and 26.2%, respectively. Estimates of the 5-year progression-free survival rates according to these three risk groups were 96% (95% CI: 92%–98%), 88% (95% CI: 76%–95%) and 67% (95% CI: 48%–81%), respectively. Differences in progression-free survival according to these risk groups were highly significant (P<0.0001, overall). The EUTOS Long-Term Survival score showed better differentiation of progression-free survival than the Sokal (<45 years), Euro and EUTOS scores in children and adolescents with chronic myeloid leukemia and should be considered in therapeutic algorithms. (Trial registered at: www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01281735)

In contrast to adults with CML, additional chromosomal abnormalities observed at diagnosis do not seem to have a significant prognostic impact. Cancer 2017;123:3609-16. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Aims: An international registry (I-CML-Ped Study)was established to assess epidemiology, management and outcome of CML in the pediatric population. Methods: All national pediatric study groups were invited to include newly diagnosed children and adolescents less than 18 years with CML diagnosed later than January 2000. Results: Since January 2011, 351 patients from 12 countries have been registered. Clinical and biological data at initial diagnosis are available in 278 patients.There was a male preponderance (57%). The median age at diagnosis was 12.4 years (range, 9 months -17.5 years); 6% of the patients were younger than 4 years. At time of diagnosis 92% of the children were in chronic phase, 8% in accelerated phase and 1% in blastic phase according to the European Leukemia Net criteria. The Sokal risk group distribution was: 18% low, 31% intermediate and 51% high risk. The majority of the patients showed a Lansky score of 100 (59%) or 90 (21%). Splenomegaly was present in 76% of patients. The median of the spleen size below the costal margin was 11 cm (range: 1 to 25 cm). The median of the leukocyte count was 235x109/L (range: 5 to 1038). Additional chromosomal abnormalities in Ph-positive cells were observed in 6 % of the patients. The BCR-ABL transcript type was available in 227 patients: b3a2 54%, b2a2 38%, b3a2-b2a2 6% and b2a3 2%. The median follow-up time is 39 months (range, 0.5-161). Eight deaths were recorded. The estimated overall survival rate at 60 months is 95% (95%CI 89-97). Irrespective of treatment and follow-up, 124 (73%) of 169 assessable patients for cytogenetic response achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). Exploratory analyses were performed in newly diagnosed patients regarding clinical and biological factors influencing the achievement of CCyR 12 months after starting imatinib. In univariate analyses, the Eutos score, the spleen size, the hematocrit level, the lymphocyte count and immature cells in peripheral blood, the percentage of granulocytes and monocytes in the marrow were identified as potential prognostic factors. However, only the percentage of the granulocytes in the marrow was identified as independent factor of achievement of CCyR at 12 months in multivariate analysis. Data collection and quality control regarding molecular assessment are ongoing. Conclusion: The data indicates that children and adolescents with CML presented with clinical and biological differences compared to adult patients with CML. Identification of prognostic factors is needed to optimize the strategy in the pediatric population. Acknowledgment: The I-CML Ped study is supported by an unrestricted grant from Novartis Pharmaceutical Company Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

No abstract