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Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infancy

Lewis B Silverman1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. lewis_silverman@dfci.harvard.edu

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|October 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has unique features and poor prognosis, often linked to MLL gene rearrangements. Research focuses on intensive chemotherapy and targeted therapies like FLT3-inhibitors to improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Hematology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare and distinct from childhood ALL.
  • It is associated with a poor prognosis and specific adverse factors.
  • MLL gene rearrangements are found in up to 80% of infant ALL cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the unique characteristics of infant ALL.
  • To outline adverse prognostic factors in infant ALL.
  • To discuss current and future therapeutic strategies for infant ALL.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on infant ALL.
  • Analysis of prognostic factors, including MLL gene rearrangements.
  • Evaluation of current treatment approaches and novel therapies.

Main Results:

  • Infant ALL presents unique biological features and a poorer prognosis compared to older children.
  • Key adverse prognostic factors include MLL gene rearrangements, young age, high leukocyte counts, and slow treatment response.
  • The role of stem cell transplant in first remission is still debated.

Conclusions:

  • Infant ALL requires distinct therapeutic strategies due to its unique biology.
  • Ongoing research focuses on intensive cytarabine regimens and targeted therapies like FLT3-inhibitors for MLL-rearranged infant ALL.
  • Improving outcomes for infants with ALL remains a critical challenge in pediatric oncology.

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