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Blinatumomab in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Author(s) -
Queudeville Ma,
Schlegel Patrick,
Heinz Amadeus T.,
Lenz Teresa,
Döring Michaela,
Holzer Ursula,
Hartmann Ulrike,
Kreyenberg Hermann,
Stackelberg Arend,
Schrappe Martin,
Zugmaier Gerhard,
Feuchtinger Tobias,
Lang Peter,
Handgretinger Rupert,
Ebinger Martin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.13569
Subject(s) - blinatumomab , medicine , cytokine release syndrome , refractory (planetary science) , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , adverse effect , salvage therapy , lymphoblastic leukemia , leukemia , pediatrics , transplantation , chemotherapy , immunotherapy , chimeric antigen receptor , astrobiology , physics , cancer
Objective Pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia have a poor prognosis. We here assess the response rates, adverse events, and long‐term follow‐up of pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia receiving blinatumomab. Methods Retrospective analysis of a single‐center experience with blinatumomab in 38 patients over a period of 10 years. Results The median age at onset of therapy was 10 years (1‐21 years). Seventy‐one percent of patients had undergone at least one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) prior to treatment with blinatumomab. We observed a response to blinatumomab in 13/38 patients (34%). The predominant side effect was febrile reactions, nearly half of the patients developed a cytokine release syndrome. Eight events of neurotoxicity were registered over the 78 cycles (15%). To date, nine patients (24%) are alive and in complete molecular remission. All survivors underwent haploidentical HSCT after treatment with blinatumomab. Conclusions Despite heavy pretreatment of most of our patients, severe adverse events were rare and response rates encouraging. Blinatumomab is a valuable bridging salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory patients to a second or even third HSCT.