Attention and executive functioning in children and adolescents treated for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A...

Survivors of childhood B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) are at risk for difficulties with attention and executive functioning (EF) as a late effect of treatment. The present study aimed to identify treatment and demographic factors associated with risk for difficulties with EF in youth treated for high-risk B-ALL.

Children and adolescents with B-ALL treated on Children's Oncology Group (COG) protocol AALL0232 were randomized to high-dose or escalating-dose methotrexate (MTX), and either dexamethasone or prednisone during the induction phase. Neuropsychological functioning was evaluated via protocol AALL06N1, including performance-based and parent-report measures, for 177 participants (57% female, 81% white; mean age at diagnosis = 8.4 years; SD = 5.0) 8-24 months following treatment completion.

Mean scores for all attention and EF measures were within the average range, with no significant differences as a function of MTX delivery or steroid treatment (all p > 0.05). In multivariable models, participants with US public insurance exhibited significantly greater parent-reported EF difficulties than those with US private or non-US insurance (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, participants diagnosed under 10 years of age performed significantly more poorly on measures of attention (i.e., continuous performance task, p ≤ 0.05) and EF (i.e., verbal fluency and tower planning task, p ≤ 0.05).

For survivors of pediatric B-ALL, treatment-related factors were not associated with attention or EF outcomes. In contrast, outcomes varied by demographic characteristics, including age and insurance type, an indicator of economic hardship. Future research is needed to more directly assess the contribution of socioeconomic status on cognitive outcomes in survivors.