Clinical Outcomes of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the Bajio Region of Mexico: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in childhood, and the Hispanic race has the highest incidence worldwide. Disparities in survival rates exist among different regions of the world. Due to this heterogeneity and possible differences in the outcomes within Mexico, the aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of cohort of pediatric patients with ALL treated in a highly specialized medical unit located in the Bajio region of Mexico. Observational retrospective study of a cohort of pediatric patients with ALL treated in a tertiary-level hospital in the Bajio region of Mexico, between January 2016 and December 2021. A total of 146 patients were included with a median age of 7 years. The 68.5% of patients were at high risk. CNS involvement was present in 2.7%, and Philadelphia chromosome positive in 2%. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 16.4% patients. The median follow-up of entire cohort was 32 months. The most frequently administered chemotherapy treatment was Total Therapy XV in 79.5% of patients. The complete remission rate was 89%. Refractory disease was present in 2.7%. Induction-related mortality was 8.2%. The relapse rate was present in 26%. The 3-years overall survival was 57.5%, and the 3-years event-free survival was 53.4%. A more aggressive course and worse survival occur in our cohort of pediatric patients with ALL. Strategies should be proposed inside Mexico and other low-middle income countries with the aim of improving the overall survival.