Burkitt Lymphoma/Leukaemia in Children & Young Adolescents

Aims Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) accounts for approximately 40% of childhood non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in the developed world. Survival rates have improved dramatically in recent years, a success attributed to better use of poly-chemotherapy and targeted immunotherapy. Nevertheless, relapse is unpredictable and carries a dismal prognosis. We report on event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) during 2000-2017, and evaluate novel predictors of outcome. Methods Data was collected by retrospective review of patient medical records. Results Thirty-three patients were identified (twenty-five [76%] males, eight [24%] females), fourteen [42%] having stage III disease at presentation. Six [18%] had stage IV disease. Five [15%] had refractory disease; one salvaged with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Of the four [12%] who died; two [50%] had weights >99th centile, one [25%] >90th centile. One died during induction from refractory lactic acidosis, one from early relapse. Discussion EFS and OS was 85% and 89% respectively; in keeping with the best international standards. Obesity appears to be a poor predictor of outcome in our cohort.