Childhood Leukemia

Mary E. MacBlane MS, PNP-BC

Goals

Incidence Etiology Diagnosis Types/Classification Treatment Primary Care Pearls

Incidence

30% of all cancers in childhood Peak incidence 2-5 years of age males > females Caucasian > African American Incidence of ALL (acute lymphoblastic

leukemia) is 5 times higher than incidence than AML (acute myeloid leukemia)

Etiology

Exact cause is NOT known Genetics

– Identical twin with leukemia– Chromosome abnormalities

Down Syndrome– Other

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Neurofibromatosis Fanconi’s Anemia Bloom Syndrome

Environmental– Ionizing Radiation– Chemotherapy– Viruses– Pesticides

5 – Year Survival

1960 – Less than 10% Today

– ALL: 80-85%– AML: about 65%

Why? – Research – Standardized treatment protocols

COGChildrens Oncology Group

International Organization Ongoing Studies

– Chemo combinations & timing, radiation, etc…– Quality of Life– Epidemiology

Standards of Care Treatment Protocols Nursing Discipline Shared Data Meetings

Diagnosis: Symptoms

Fatigue Pallor Anorexia Bruising/Bleeding Fever Bone/joint pain Belly pain H/A

Diagnosis: Exam Findings

Pallor Bruises Petechiae Lymphadenopathy Hepatosplenomegaly Cranial Nerve Palsies Testicular enlargement Chloromas Leukemia Cutis Mediastinal Mass Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Leukemia Cutis Petechiae

Differential Diagnosis

Viral Illness ITP Aplastic Anemia Arthritis Lupus Transient Erythroblastic Anemia of Childhood Other Malignancies

Diagnostic Studies

CBC

Other– Chemistries– Uric Acid– LFT’s – LDH– Viral Titers– Chest x-ray

CBC w/ Differential

WBC’s– ↑ or ↓

Hgb ↓ Platelet Ct ↓ Diff

– Neutropenia– Peripheral Blasts

Types of Childhood Leukemia

ALL – Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia AML – Acute Myeloid Leukemia CML – Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Classification by Cell Lineage

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Most common cause of childhood leukemia Peak age: 2-5 years Males > females

ALL – Best Prognosis

Ages 1-9 Females Initial WBC < 10,000 Favorable cytogenetics Early response to treatment

ALL –Poor Prognosis

Ages < 1 year or > 10 years Initial WBC > 50,000 Extramedullary sites

– CNS– Testes

Steroid Pre-Treatment Unfavorable cytogenetics Lack of remission after induction treatment

ALL - Cytogenetics Examples

Favorable Unfavorable

Hyperdiploid (extra chromosomes)

Hypodiploid (fewer than 54 chromosomes)

Trisomies 4, 10, 17t(9;22) BCR/ABL translocation (Philadelphia chromosome)

t (12;21) TEL-AML1 t(4;11) MLL rearrangement

ALL - Risk Stratification

Low Risk Average (Standard) Risk High Risk Very High Risk

ALL Induction Therapy

Lasts 35 Days Medications

– Intrathecal Medications weekly (Cytarabine or Methotrexate)

– Vincristine IV weekly– Peg-Asparaginase on Day 4– 28 days of steroids

Examine peripheral blood for remission at Day 8 and Day 29

Bone marrow recheck at Day 29 Expect remission by the end of induction

ALL - Phases of Treatment

Induction (first month) Consolidation (1 month) Interim Maintenance I (2 months) Delayed Intensification (2 months) Interim Maintenance II (2 months) Maintenance

– 2 years for females– 3 years for males

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

No Peak Age 20-25% of acute leukemia in children Overall prognosis about 65%

AML – Favorable Prognosis

Down syndrome Cytogenetics: t(8;21) t(15;17), inv 16

AML – Unfavorable Prognosis

WBC > 100,000 at diagnosis Cytogenetics: t(9;11), 11q23 Therapy-related AML Lack of remission after induction

AML – General Treatment

Very Intensive Therapy– Induction I and II– Intensification I and II

About 6 months Inpatient for most of therapy

Bone Marrow Transplant

High Risk ALL AML

Complications of Leukemia Treatment

Tumor Lysis Syndrome Infection/Sepsis Thrombosis Hemorrhage / DIC Leukostasis

Infection Risk

Central Lines Prolonged Neutropenia Immunocompromise after BMT

Infection Risk Tidbits

Alpha Strep Fungal PCP

– Bactrim– Dapsone– Pentamidine

Primary Care

Diagnosis During Treatment Late Effects Monitoring for relapse

Primary Care Pearls

Diagnosis– History– Exam– CBC– No Steroids– Avoid Transfusion– CXR– Make the phone call

Primary Care Pearls

After Diagnosis– General Care– Immunizations

Flu Shots No Live-Virus Vaccines

– Maintaining Normalcy and Hope– Sibling Considerations

Virus Varicella Flu Shots

Primary Care Pearls

Late Effects– Avascular necrosis– Cardiotoxicity– Neuro-cognitive– Secondary malignancies– Endocrine abnormalities

Alert for Relapse

Case Study 1

2 year old female brought to primary care provider Parents report a 1 week hx of fatique that has gotten

worse; pain that began in her feet and progressed to legs; and a petechial rash over her arms and legs with some bruising. She had a brief episode of epistaxis on day prior to appointment. They also felt that her belly has seemed more prominent for the past 2 weeks.

Primary provider obtained a CBC which revealed peripheral blasts

Case Study 1

Initial labs at admission: CBC

– WBC: 27,000 Blasts: 34% Neutrophils 1%

– Hgb: 4.9 (11.5-13.5)– Platelets: 6,000 (150,000-400,000)

Chemistries:– Uric Acid: 3.4 (2.4-5.7)– Potassium: 3.9 (3.3-5.1)– Creat: 0.2 (.2-.7)– Bili: 0.2 (.1-1.0)– LDH: 341 (120-300)

Case Study 1

Treated following standard risk ALL protocol 2 unplanned admissions

– Both for fever and neutropenia– On one admission found to have pneumonia

Otherwise did well and completed therapy in 25 months

Case Study 2

12 year old male with bulky lymphadenopathy, change in voice, difficulty breathing.

Seen in local ED and prescribed 4 day course of prednisone Symptoms initially resolved but recurred and seemed much

worse 3 days later (very hoarse voice, could not lay down flat to sleep)

Again seen in ED and 5 day course of prednisone and then 4 day taper prescribed

On last day of steroids there was a biopsy of a lymph node. 2 days later the primary care provider was notified that the results were consistent with T-cell leukemia.

Case Study 2

Admitted to our facility with initial studies: CBC:

– WBC: 58.6 Creatinine: 1.1 (0.5-1.2) Uric Acid: 8.3 (3.4-7.0) Chest x-ray reveals large mediastinal mass

and tracheal deviation

Case Study 2

High Risk T-Cell ALLAge – 12 yearsInitial WBC – 58,000Pretreated with Steroids

Already in tumor lysisCreatinine 1.1Uric acid 8.3

Case Study 3

15 year male who moved to the US about 6 months earlier. He was seen in primary care office for routine well-child check. Only complaint was headache on and off for 2 weeks.

Exam: nl except mild submandibular adenopathy CBC

– WBC 6.8 32% Blasts 9% Neutrophils

– Hgb 12.6 (13-17)– Plt 308

Case Study 3

Admitted to the hospital and lumbar puncture and bone marrow completed

Lumbar puncture: No evidence of malignancy

Bone Marrow consistent with Acute Myeloid Leukemia with favorable cytogenetics: t(8,21)

Case Study 3

Received 4 courses of chemotherapy over 4 admissions

Admission #1 and #2 each lasted about 1 month. Received prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals. Occasional transfusions of packed cells and platelets

Case Study 3

Admission 3: Lots of issues (1 month stay)– Persistent fever despite prophylaxis. Had to change to

treatment dose of meds. All cultures were negative throughout stay

– Ambisome for fungal coverage and then needed Amiloride to prevent potassium wasting

– Anorexia – Started periactin. Needed N-D tube for feeds– Multiple transfusions of packed red blood cells and

platelets

Case Study 3

Admission 4: Over 6 weeks stay– Persistent fever despite prophylaxis. Positive blood

cultures for Staph hominis. Required Vanco and Zosyn for 10 days and then returned to prophylaxis.

– Ambisome again for fungal coverage. Required electrolyte supplementation (Magnesium, Potassium) in addition to Amiloride

– Anorexia – Periactin at first. Changed to Marinol. Tube feedings not tolerated. TPN required.

– C-diff infection. Treated with Flagyl– Lip lesion positive for HSV-1– Multiple transfusions of packed red blood cells and

platelets

Case Study 3

Now doing GREAT! Returned to school Visits the clinic about every 6 weeks currently

Thank You