Prognostic impact of IKZF1 deletions in association with vincristine-dexamethasone pulses during maintenance treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia on trial AIEOP-BFM…

Background: Previous studies suggested that patients with IKZF1-deleted acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may benefit from intensification of conventional maintenance therapy by application of vincristine-steroid pulses (Clappier E, Leukemia 2015; 29: 2154 – 2161). Here, we investigated the impact of additional pulses during maintenance therapy for IKZF1-deleted ALL in a large cohort of intermediate risk patients treated according to the AIEOP-BFM ALL 95 protocol. Methods: Between April 1995 and December 2000, patients diagnosed with de novo ALL were enrolled in AIEOP-BFM ALL 95 from Austrian, German, Italian a…