Outcomes of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia treatment in Western Kenya

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Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia
10:49

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia

Published on: September 18, 2013

18.3K

Romy E van Weelderen1,2, Festus Njuguna3, Kim Klein1,4

  • 1Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Cancer Reports (Hoboken, N.J.)
|November 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survival is poor in Kenya, with 2-year survival rates of 4-7%. Improving supportive care and reducing treatment delays are crucial for better outcomes in low-income countries.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Hematology
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents significant treatment challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • Survival rates for pediatric AML are notably lower in LMICs compared to high-income countries (HICs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate treatment outcomes for Kenyan children diagnosed with AML.
  • To assess the influence of sociodemographic and clinical factors on pediatric AML outcomes in Kenya.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of medical records at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya (2010-2018).
  • Analysis of sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and treatment protocols including chemotherapy (doxorubicin, cytarabine, etoposide) and supportive care.
  • Inclusion of 73 children with AML, with data on symptom duration, diagnosis time, and treatment initiation.

Main Results:

  • The 2-year event-free and overall survival probabilities were 4% and 7%, respectively.
  • Complete remission was achieved by 33% of patients who started chemotherapy, with a 56% relapse rate among them.
  • High rates of treatment abandonment (22%) and early death (46%) were observed. Median symptom duration was 1 month, with diagnosis 6 days and treatment 16 days post-admission.

Conclusions:

  • Survival for Kenyan children with AML is extremely low, significantly lagging behind HICs.
  • Enhancing supportive care, optimizing treatment protocols, and reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation are critical for improving survival rates.
Abstract

Keywords:
Kenyalow- and middle-income countriespediatric acute myeloid leukemiasub-Saharan Africasurvival

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