Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the NOPHO ALL2008 protocol

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Raheel A Raja
  • Schmiegelow, K.
  • Birgitte K Albertsen
  • Kaie Prunsild
  • Bernward Zeller
  • Goda Vaitkeviciene
  • Jonas Abrahamsson
  • Mats Heyman
  • Mervi Taskinen
  • Arja Harila-Saari
  • Jukka Kanerva
  • Thomas L Frandsen
  • Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) group

L-asparaginase is an important drug in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Treatment is associated with several toxicities, including acute pancreatitis. Clinical course, presentation, re-exposure to L-asparginase after pancreatitis and risk of recurrent pancreatitis within an asparaginase-intensive protocol has been poorly reported. Children (1-17 years) on the ongoing Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL2008 protocol with asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) diagnosed between 2008 and 2012 were identified through the online NOPHO ALL toxicity registry. NOPHO ALL2008 includes eight or 15 doses of intramuscular pegylated L-asparginase (PEG-asparaginase) 1000 iu/m(2) /dose at 2-6 weeks intervals, with a total of 30 weeks of exposure to PEG-asparaginase (clinicaltrials.gov no: NCT00819351). Of 786 children, 45 were diagnosed with AAP with a cumulative risk of AAP of 5·9%. AAP occurred after a median of five doses (range 1-13), and 11 d (median) from the latest administration of PEG-Asparaginase. Thirteen patients developed pseudocysts (30%) and 11 patients developed necrosis (25%). One patient died from pancreatitis. Twelve AAP patients were re-exposed to L-asparginase, two of whom developed mild AAP once more, after four and six doses respectively. In conclusion, re-exposure to PEG-asparaginase in ALL patients with mild AAP seems safe.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume165
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)126-133
Number of pages8
ISSN0007-1048
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014

    Research areas

  • Adolescent, Antineoplastic Agents, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Asparaginase, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Pancreatitis, Polyethylene Glycols, Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Treatment Outcome

ID: 138177371