Immunotherapy reduces leukemia relapse rates in children

acute lymphoblastic leukemia immunotherapy blinatumomab pediatric oncology clinical trial

An international clinical study has demonstrated that immunotherapy can significantly improve outcomes for children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The research, involving over 100 centers across eight countries, was led by the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel.

The study compared traditional high-intensity chemotherapy against a strategy using blinatumomab, a targeted immunotherapy. Results published in the New England Journal of Medicine show that the immunotherapy group experienced a relapse rate of approximately 12 percent after four years, compared to 21 percent in the chemotherapy group.

In addition to higher efficacy, the immunotherapy approach resulted in fewer severe side effects. Serious infections occurred in nearly 70 percent of children in the chemotherapy group, while fewer than 25 percent of those receiving immunotherapy experienced such complications. The Deutsche Krebshilfe provided approximately 4.2 million euros in funding for this research.

Entities

AIEOP-BFM ALL · Deutsche Krebshilfe · Kiel · Martin Schrappe · New England Journal of Medicine · Systemic Inflammation Response Index · University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein · Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein · blinatumomab

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] An international study led by the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel found that immunotherapy can replace part of traditional chemotherapy for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. www.rtl.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · monzanetweek.it
[● 2 SOURCES] The Deutsche Krebshilfe funded the study with approximately 4.2 million euros. www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 4 SOURCES] The relapse rate in the immunotherapy group was approximately 12 percent, compared to 21 percent in the chemotherapy group after four years. www.rtl.de · monzanetweek.it · www.leinetal24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de
[● 2 SOURCES] Serious infections occurred in nearly 70 percent of children in the chemotherapy group, whereas fewer than 25 percent experienced them in the immunotherapy group. www.rtl.de · monzanetweek.it
[● 2 SOURCES] The immunotherapy used blinatumomab to target leukemic cells via T lymphocytes. monzanetweek.it · www.rtl.de