Blinatumomab as a bridge to further therapy in cases of overwhelming toxicity in pediatric B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Report from the Israeli Study Group of Childhood Leukemia. Issue 10 (2nd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elitzur, Sarah; Arad‐Cohen, Nira; Barzilai‐Birenboim, Shlomit; Ben‐Harush, Miriam; Bielorai, Bella; Elhasid, Ronit; Feuerstein, Tamar; Gilad, Gil; Gural, Alexander; Kharit, Mira; Litichever, Naomi; Nirel, Ronit; Weinreb, Sigal; Wolach, Ofir; Toren, Amos; Izraeli, Shai; Jacoby, Elad
• Is Part Of: Pediatric blood & cancer. Volume 66:Issue 10(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-07-02
• Subjects: blinatumomab -- childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia -- immunotherapy -- treatment‐related toxicity; Tumors in children -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Cancer in children -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-5009

Abstract

Abstract: Tremendous progress in the therapy of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has been achieved through combination cytotoxic chemotherapy, leading to high cure rates, at the cost of significant life‐threatening toxicity. The bispecific T‐cell engager blinatumomab, recently approved for relapsed/refractory ALL, has a unique nonmyelotoxic toxicity profile. As blinatumomab causes B‐cell depletion, the safety of its use during severe chemotherapy‐induced toxicity is unclear. We report 11 pediatric patients with ALL, treated with blinatumomab following overwhelming chemotherapy‐associated toxicity, with recovery of all patients and successful bridging to further antileukemia therapy. Blinatumomab can be considered for rare patients who cannot tolerate cytotoxic therapy.