Onkologie. 2010:4(2):120-124

Acute leukemias in children

Jan Starý

Klinika dětské hematologie a onkologie UK 2. LF a FN Motol, Praha

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represents 25 % of childhood tumors being the most frequent childhood cancer. ALL is a heterogeneous

disease, biologically different from the same disease in adults. Median age at diagnosis is 5 years, the most frequent chromosomal

abnormalities are fusion gene TEL-AML1 and hyperdiploidy over 50 chromosomes. Event-free-survival is over 75 % and overall survival

85 % in children treated with combined chemotherapy intensified according to the risk group. The incidence of relapse is 15–20 % and

bone marrow transplantation is the important treatment modality in such situation. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents 15 %

of childhood leukemias. The most frequent genetic subtype is monocytic leukemia with MLL rearrangement at the long arm of chromosome

11 (11q23) (20–25 % of all AML) with intermediate prognosis. Subtypes with good prognosis – acute promyelocytic leukemia

with t (15; 17), myeloid leukemia with t (8; 21) and myelomonocytic leukemia with inv (16) represent 30–40 % of AML with overall survival

70 %. Total treatment results are steadily improving with a chance to achieve remission over 90 % and overall survival over 60 %.

Keywords: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, biology, treatment, children

Published: May 1, 2010  Show citation