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Long-term results of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Studies, 1982–1995

Leukemia volume 14, pages 2196–2204 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The first multicentric approach to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment in Italy started in the early 1970s when the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP) was founded. Since then the AIEOP has conducted nationwide chemotherapy protocols. Results obtained in three different periods (1982–1986, 1987–1990, 1991–1995) are reported here. Treatment schedules have been characterized by a progressive intensification of systemic therapy and by a progressive substitution of protracted intrathecal therapy for cranial irradiation as central nervous system (CNS) preventive therapy. In the third period cranial radiotherapy (CRT) has been administered only to patients at high risk of relapse or with CNS involvement at diagnosis (about 15% of the overall population). A progressive improvement of therapeutic results, with a steady reduction of isolated CNS relapse rates have been obtained in the three periods considered here. The AIEOP experience shows that CRT can be safely omitted in non-high risk patients, unless they are T-ALL patients with WBC count at the diagnosis ⩾100 000/mm3, and that intensification of treatment allows the improvement of overall results with a reduction of the impact of NCI prognostic criteria. Over the years, AIEOP has also continued to foster active cooperation at an international level. In the ongoing AIEOP ALL 2000 study, conducted in cooperation with the BFM group, patients are stratified according to the presence of translocations t(9;22) and t(4;11) and to treatment response (either initial steroid therapy or induction) or minimal residual disease). This cooperation will allow an adequate recruitment of patients to answer relevant randomized questions in the context of a study in which patients are stratified according to minimal residual disease findings.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr Daniela Silvestri for her excellent contribution to data management and analysis, and to all parents’ associations and charities which continuously support the clinical and research work. This study was supported in part by the Ministero Università Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica (MURST), grant 9906152551–007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano, S Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy

    V Conter, A Biondi, C Rizzari & G Masera

  2. University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S Matteo, Italy

    M Aricò

  3. Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy

    MG Valsecchi

  4. University of Padova, Policlinico S Orsola, Italy

    G Basso & L Zanesco

  5. University of Torino, Policlinico S Orsola, Italy

    E Madon

  6. Department of Hematology, University ‘La Sapienza’ of Roma, Italy

    F Mandelli

  7. University of Bologna, Policlinico S Orsola, Italy

    G Paolucci, A Pession & R Rondelli

Authors
  1. V Conter
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  2. M Aricò
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  3. MG Valsecchi
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  4. G Basso
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  5. A Biondi
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  6. E Madon
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  7. F Mandelli
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  8. G Paolucci
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  9. A Pession
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  10. C Rizzari
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  11. R Rondelli
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  12. L Zanesco
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  13. G Masera
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Consortia

for the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP)

Appendix

Appendix

The following institutions enrolled patients in AIEOP-ALL studies:

Ancona, Clinica Pediatrica (Dr L Felici, Dr P Pierani)

Ancona, Divisione di Pediatria (Prof G Caramia, Dr F Iorini)

Bari, Clinica Pediatrica I (Prof F Schettini, Dr N Santoro)

Bari, Clinica Pediatrica II (Prof N Rigillo, Dr S Bagnulo)

Bergamo, Divisione di Pediatria (Prof F Bergonzi, Dr PE Cornelli) e di Ematologia (Prof T Barbui)

Bologna, Clinica Pediatrica III (Prof G Paolucci, Dr A Pession, Dr R Rondelli)

Bologna, Divisione di Pediatria, Ospedale Maggiore (Prof G Ambrosioni)

Brescia, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof AG Ugazio, Dr A Arrighini)

Cagliari, Servizio di Oncoematologia Pediatrica (Prof PF Biddau, Dr R Mura)

Catania, Divisione di Onco-Ematologia Pediatrica (Prof G Schilirò, Dr L Lo Nigro)

Catanzaro, Divisione di Ematologia (Prof S Magro, Dr C Consarino)

Firenze, Ospedale Meyer, Dipartimento di Pediatria, UO Oncoematologia Pediatrica (Prof G Bernini, Dr A Lippi)

Genova, Istituto ‘G. Gaslini’ (Prof PG Mori, Dr C Micalizzi)

Genova Galliera (Prof A Rasore Quartino, Dr M Cominetti)

Milano, Clinica ‘De Marchi’ (Prof V Carnelli, Dott D Portaleone)

Modena, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof F Massolo, Dr M Cellini)

Monza, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof G Masera, Dr V Conter, Dr C Rizzari, Dr M Jankovic, Dr C Uderzo)

Napoli, Ospedale Pausilipon (Prof V Poggi, Dr MF Pintà Boccalatte)

Napoli, II Università, Dipartimento di Pediatria, Servizio Autonomo di Oncologia Pediatrica, (Prof MT Di Tullio, Dr F Casale, Dr A Murano)

Napoli, Clinica Pediatrica II (Prof S Auricchio, DrA Fiorillo, Dr R Migliorati)

Napoli, Ospedale SS Annunziata (Prof F Tancredi, Dr A Correra)

Napoli, Ospedale ‘Cardarelli’ (Dott P Antonelli)

Padova, Clinica Pediatrica II (Prof L Zanesco, Prof G Basso, Dr C Messina)

Palermo, Clinica Pediatrica I (Prof M Lo Curto, Dr G Fugardi)

Parma, Clinica Pediatrica (Dr G Izzi, Dr P Bertolini)

Pavia, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof G Rondini, Dr M Aricò)

Perugia, Divisione di Oncoematologia Pediatrica, Ospedale Silvestrini (Dr A Amici, Dr P Zucchetti)

Pescara, Divisione di Ematologia (Dr A Di Marzio, Dr R Di Lorenzo, Prof G Torlontano)

Pisa, Clinica Pediatrica III (Prof P Macchia, Dr C Favre)

Reggio Calabria, Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedali Riuniti (Prof F Nobile, Dr M Comis)

Roma, Divisione di Ematologia Pediatrica, Ospedale ‘Bambino Gesù’ (Prof G De Rossi, Dr C Miano, Dr M Luciani)

Roma, Cattedra di Ematologia (Prof F Mandelli, Dr AM Testi)

Roma, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof G Multari, Dr B Werner)

S Giovanni Rotondo, Ospedale ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’, Divisione di Pediatria, Sezione di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica (Prof M Carotenuto, Prof P Paolucci, Dr S Ladogana)

Sassari, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof D Gallisai, Dr C Cosmi)

Siena, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof G Morgese, Dr A Acquaviva, Dr A D'Ambrosio)

Torino, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof E Madon, Prof R Miniero, Dr E Barisone)

Trieste, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof P Tamaro, Dr GA Zanazzo)

Varese, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof L Nespoli, Dr S Binda)

Verona, Clinica Pediatrica (Prof L Tatò, Dr C Marradi)

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Conter, V., Aricò, M., Valsecchi, M. et al. Long-term results of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Studies, 1982–1995. Leukemia 14, 2196–2204 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2401963

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