Retrospective study of outcomes in children, adolescents, and youg adults with Down syndrome and ALL in COG-trials, 2003-2019

Patients with B-ALL and Down syndrome (DS) experience increased rates of relapse, toxicity, and death. Analysis of four Children’s Oncology Group trials between 2003 and 2019 included B-ALL patients aged 1-30 years with (n=743) or without (n=20,067) DS. Patients with DS-ALL exhibited an increased rate of relapse and particularly of treatment-related mortality compared to ALL patients without DS. The authors conclude that novel, less-toxic therapeutic strategies are needed to improve outcomes of DS-ALL patients.