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Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
Published on: February 15, 2013
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine administration during therapy for pediatric leukemia
Nigel W Crawford1, Anne Balloch, Leena Tikkanen
1From the *SAEFVIC, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; †Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital; ‡Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne; §Pneumococcal Laboratory, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; ¶Children's Cancer Centre, Royal Children's Hospital; ‖Children's Cancer Centre and **Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Monash Children's Hospital, Monash Health; and ††Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
The 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) is safe for pediatric leukemia patients undergoing chemotherapy. It elicits a satisfactory immune response against most vaccine serotypes, crucial for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pediatric leukemia patients face a high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease.
- Chemotherapy can impact immune function, necessitating evaluation of vaccine efficacy during treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the antibody response to the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) in pediatric leukemia patients receiving chemotherapy.
- To determine the safety and immunogenicity of PCV10 in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- An open-label study involving two groups of pediatric leukemia patients: one group received a single PCV10 dose after completing a PCV7 course, while the other (immunization-naïve) received three PCV10 doses.
- Serum samples were analyzed for anti-pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Functional antibody response was assessed using opsonophagocytic assays for specific serotypes.
Main Results:
- Thirty-nine participants (median age 6.2 years) with acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia were enrolled.
- Post-immunization, over 60% of participants in both groups achieved protective antibody levels for 7 out of 10 PCV10 serotypes.
- ELISA and opsonophagocytic assay results showed correlation for 3 of 4 tested serotypes; injection-site reactions were reported in 73%.
Conclusions:
- Administering the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) during chemotherapy for pediatric leukemia is safe.
- PCV10 demonstrates a satisfactory serum immune response in the majority of vaccine serotypes for these patients.
Background:
Pediatric leukemia patients are at high risk of invasive pneumococcal disease. The study aim was to determine the antibody response to a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) administered during chemotherapy.
Methods:
An open-label study in pediatric leukemia patients: Group 1 had completed a primary 7-valent (PCV7) course and received a single PCV10 dose. Group 2 were PCV immunization naïve and received 3 doses of PCV10, administered 2 months apart. Serum samples were taken at baseline and 1 month post each PCV10 dose. Antipneumococcal serotype-specific IgG to 10 serotypes were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the functional response to 4 serotypes (1, 6B, 19F and 23F) was measured using opsonophagocytic assays.
Results:
Thirty-nine participants were recruited between May 2010 and January 2011; group 1 (n = 27) and group 2 (n = 12). The diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (38) and acute myeloid leukemia (1). Median age was 6.2 years (1.7-17.2 years) with 62% male. The median time from diagnosis to baseline serology was 7.4 months (1.6-36.8 months). At baseline, protective geometric mean concentration above the threshold (>0.35 μg/mL) ranged from 5.3% (serotype 4) to 71% (serotype 19F). More than 60% of participants in both groups were above threshold postimmunization for 7 of the 10 PCV serotypes. Opsonophagocytic assay correlated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 3 of the 4 serotypes and r ranged from 0.51 to 0.84. An injection-site reaction was reported in 73% (27/37).
Conclusions:
It is safe to administer PCV10 vaccine during therapy for pediatric leukemia. It provided a satisfactory serum immune response for the majority of vaccine serotypes.
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