Prognostic and therapeutic implications of measurable residual disease levels during remission induction of childhood ALL

W Weina Zhang (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control) J Jiaoyang Cai (1Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Shanghai, China) X Xiang Wang Y Yani Ma (2Department of Hematology/Oncology, Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of China Ministry of Health, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai, China) X Xiaofan Zhu J Jie Yu P Peifang Xiao (1Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China) J Ju Gao Y Yongjun Fang (12Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China) C Changda Liang (14Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, China) X Xue Li F Fen Zhou X Xiaowen Zhai (3Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China) X Xiaoxiao Xu X Xin Tian (Wuya College of Innovation) A Aiguo Liu (14Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Department of Pediatrics, Wuhan, China) N Ningling Wang (4Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China) J Jiashi Zhu (16Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China) L Lingzhen Wang F Frankie Wai-Tsoi Cheng (18Department of Pediatrics, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China) L Liangchun Yang G Ge Zhang C Cheng Cheng J Jun J. Yang (Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences) S Shuhong Shen (1Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Shanghai, China) C Chi-kong Li (13Department of Pediatrics, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China) B Benshang Li (2Department of Hematology/Oncology, Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of China Ministry of Health, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai, China) H Hua Jiang C Ching-Hon Pui

Abstract

Abstract We evaluated the prognostic and therapeutic significance of measurable residual disease (MRD) during remission induction in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In the Chinese Children Cancer Group ALL 2015 protocol, 7640 patients were categorized into low-, intermediate-, or high-risk groups based on clinical and genetic features. Final risk classification was determined by assessing MRD using flow cytometry on days 19 and 46 of remission induction with additional intensified chemotherapy for day 19 MRD ≥1%. Patients with B-ALL with negative MRD (<0.01%) on day 19 or day 46 had significantly better 5-year event-free survival (EFS) than those with MRD of between 0.01% and 0.99% who, in turn, had better EFS than patients with MRD of ≥1%. Provisional low-risk patients with day 19 MRD ≥1% but negative day 46 MRD who were reclassified as intermediate risk had a 5-year EFS that was comparable with that of low-risk patients with day 19 MRD of 0.3% to 0.99% and negative day 46 MRD (82.5% vs 83.0%) and better EFS than provisional low-risk patients with MRD on both days (83.0% vs 72.6%; P < .001). Similarly, patients with provisional intermediate-risk B-ALL with day 19 MRD ≥1% but negative day 46 MRD who received additional therapy had better 5-year EFS than those with day 19 MRD between 0.3% and 0.99% (70.7% vs 53.0%; P < .001). Among low-risk patients with negative day 46 MRD, those with negative day 19 MRD had superior EFS than those with positive day 19 MRD (91.7% vs 86.1%; P < .001). Optimal use of day 19 MRD could improve individualized treatment and outcomes. This trial was registered at www.chictr.org.cn as #ChiCTR-IPR-14005706.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 145, Issue 17
Published April 24, 2025
Pages 1890-1902
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (29)

W

Weina Zhang

Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control

J

Jiaoyang Cai

1Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Shanghai, China

X

Xiang Wang

Y

Yani Ma

2Department of Hematology/Oncology, Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of China Ministry of Health, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai, China

X

Xiaofan Zhu

J

Jie Yu

P

Peifang Xiao

1Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

J

Ju Gao

Y

Yongjun Fang

12Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China

C

Changda Liang

14Department of Hematology/Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, Nanchang, China

X

Xue Li

F

Fen Zhou

X

Xiaowen Zhai

3Department of Hematology and Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

X

Xiaoxiao Xu

X

Xin Tian

Wuya College of Innovation

A

Aiguo Liu

14Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Department of Pediatrics, Wuhan, China

N

Ningling Wang

4Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

J

Jiashi Zhu

16Department of Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

L

Lingzhen Wang

F

Frankie Wai-Tsoi Cheng

18Department of Pediatrics, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

L

Liangchun Yang

G

Ge Zhang

C

Cheng Cheng

J

Jun J. Yang

Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

S

Shuhong Shen

1Department of Hematology/Oncology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Health Committee Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Shanghai, China

C

Chi-kong Li

13Department of Pediatrics, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

B

Benshang Li

2Department of Hematology/Oncology, Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of China Ministry of Health, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, National Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai, China

H

Hua Jiang

C

Ching-Hon Pui