Ethnic disparities relative to disease features and outcomes in children with acute myeloid leukemia

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017 Sep;64(9). doi: 10.1002/pbc.26487. Epub 2017 Mar 7.

Abstract

Hispanics with acute leukemias have poorer outcomes than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), despite an increased likelihood of favorable prognostic features. We reviewed medical records from 167 children ages 0-18 years diagnosed with de novo AML over an 18-year period at Texas Children's Cancer Center, among whom 129 self-identified as Hispanic or NHW. Although Hispanics were significantly more likely to have the favorable prognostic cytogenetic feature t(8;21) (P = 0.04), the expected survival benefit was not observed. This lack of survival benefit was primarily due to significantly poorer event-free and overall survival among Hispanics treated with upfront stem cell transplantation after achieving first clinical remission (P = 0.008).

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; bone marrow transplant; ethnicity; outcomes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / epidemiology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • White People