“Feasible and effective administration of Bortezomib with Rituximab in children with relapsed/resistant B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL): A step toward the first line”

Abstract

Despite a high cure rate in childhood BCP-ALL, 20% of children still presents with relapse, mostly due to a persistent leukemic clone during the first-line treatment. In this context, obtaining a molecular remission is crucial for reaching a successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib was effectively administered to children with resistant/relapsed (r/r) BCP-ALL. Moreover, high risk ALL is characterized by the increasing expression of CD20. For the first time we reported two children with r/r BCP-ALL who received a treatment schema including Bortezomib and Rituximab, achieving morphological and molecular remission. Children with high risk features, such as persistent minimal residual disease during induction, will benefit from this combination. Is it time to move toward the first line?

Keywords:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Bortezomib
• children
• Rituximab
• relapse

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to American Manuscript Editors for English editing.

Authors’ contributions

LLN designed the research study, followed the patients, wrote the manuscript and revised the final version critically; GP and EC collected data and wrote the manuscript; NA performed molecular analyses; PB performed cytofluorimetric analyses; GR revised the final version.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by Italian Association of Cancer Research (AIRC, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro) -MFAG (My First AIRC Grant) and by IBISCUS-Onlus.