Researchers have suggested that radiation may not be necessary for treating pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) undergoing stem cell transplantation. A study found that patients without minimal residual disease (MRD) before their transplants had similar relapse-free survival rates whether or not they received total body irradiation. The study used a new test called next-generation sequence minimal residual disease (NGS-MRD) to detect hidden leukemia cells in patients with B-ALL. If patients tested negative on the NGS-MRD test before a transplant, they could potentially avoid total body irradiation, which is associated with long-term side effects such as growth impairment and developmental delays. The ongoing study aims to refine risk stratification for patients who may not require intense treatments like total body irradiation.
The research findings have significant implications for the treatment of pediatric patients with B-ALL. Currently, total body irradiation is the standard preparatory treatment given before stem cell transplants for these patients. However, the study suggests that children without minimal residual disease may have similar outcomes without the use of total body irradiation. The new test, NGS-MRD, is highly sensitive and can detect hidden leukemia cells in the body, providing a more accurate assessment of the disease. By avoiding total body irradiation, pediatric patients may experience fewer long-term side effects such as growth impairment and hormone function issues. The ongoing study aims to further investigate the necessity of total body irradiation and refine risk stratification for B-ALL patients. These findings have the potential to change the current treatment protocol and improve the outcomes and quality of life for pediatric cancer patients.
