Outcome of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in children and adolescents: an analysis in two consecutive trials of the European APL Group.

International audiencePURPOSE: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is rare in children. All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy, the reference treatment of APL, is generally considered to produce similar results in children and adults. However, previously published childhood APL studies have generally analyzed all patients age 18 years) included in two multicenter APL clinical trials (APL 93 and 2000 trials). RESULTS: Of the 833 patients age ≤ 60 years included in the two trials, 26 (3%), 58 (7%), and 749 (90%) were children, adolescents, and adults, respectively. Children had significantly higher baseline WBC counts (P 4 years with APL treated with ATRA and chemotherapy have outcomes at least as favorable as those of adults. Younger children seem to experience more relapses and may require reinforcement of first-line treatment