Blinatumomab as bridging therapy in paediatric B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia complicated by invasive fungal disease. (21st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeoh, Daniel K.; Blyth, Christopher C.; Kotecha, Rishi S.
• Is Part Of: British journal of haematology. Volume 198:Number 5(2022)
• Page Start: 887
• Page End: 892
• Publication Date: 2022-06-21
• Subjects: acute lymphoblastic leukaemia -- blinatumomab -- immunotherapy -- invasive fungal disease -- paediatric; Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.15
• DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18314
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1048

Abstract

Summary: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) remains a challenging complication of treatment for paediatric acute leukaemia. Consensus fungal treatment guidelines recommend withholding chemotherapy to facilitate immune recovery in this setting, yet prolonged delays in leukaemia therapy increase risk of relapse. Blinatumomab, a bispecific T‐cell engager targeting cells expressing CD19, has shown promise for treatment of relapsed/refractory B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B‐ALL) and is associated with reduced toxicity compared to conventional chemotherapy. With close monitoring of minimal residual disease, we demonstrate that children with B‐ALL can receive repeated cycles of bridging blinatumomab whilst conventional chemotherapy is withheld during treatment and recovery from IFD.