The Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital was involved in a pivotal Children’s Oncology Group study that has reshaped the standard of care for children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that adding blinatumomab (BLINCYTO®) to chemotherapy significantly improves survival rates in children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Findings from the Children’s Oncology Group’s Phase III AALL1731 trial, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, reveal that children receiving blinatumomab with chemotherapy had a three-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of 96%, compared to 87.9% for those receiving chemotherapy alone. This marks a significant advancement in pediatric leukemia treatment, with a 61% reduction in the risk of relapse, secondary malignancy, or remission-related death.
“The AALL1731 study results are truly practice-changing, further solidifying blinatumomab’s role as the standard of care for a large number of children with B-ALL,” says Sumit Gupta, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, co-chair of the Children’s Oncology Group AALL1731 study and oncologist and clinician investigator, Division of Haematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto. “These breakthrough data showing a significant improvement in disease-free survival are poised to bring substantial clinical value to children with newly diagnosed B-ALL.”
The success of the AALL1731 has reshaped treatment protocols world-wide, offering families new hope for improved survival rates and quality of life.
“Children’s Oncology Group protocols change how we treat children with cancer – this represents a landmark study integrating targeted therapy into standard chemotherapy,” says Jacqueline Casillas, M.D., medical director, Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Institute, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “We are incredibly proud to have contributed to this groundbreaking research, which will help shape the future of pediatric cancer treatment and give more children the chance for long-term remission.”
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital has a dedicated team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and research coordinators who ensures rigorous adherence to all study protocols. Together, the hospital’s multidisciplinary team consistently offers patients advanced treatment that can ultimately culminate in groundbreaking results like these.
“What a privilege it has been to be involved in a Children’s Oncology Group’s trial that has redefined leukemia treatment,” says Maki Okada, MS, CPNP-PC, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, co-study nurse for Children’s Oncology Group AALL1731 study.
As research continues to advance, the integration of targeted immunotherapies like blinatumomab is transforming pediatric leukemia care. It builds upon the progress of traditional chemotherapy to further enhance outcomes for young patients.
“Over the last decade, BLINCYTO has reshaped the treatment landscape for B-ALL, offering a critical lifeline for thousands of adult and pediatric patients,” says Jay Bradner, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Amgen. “These powerful new data leave us little doubt about the profound impact of this medicine for a large number of children affected by this disease. We are grateful to the Children’s Oncology Group, along with the patients, families, and clinical teams, for their dedication and partnership in advancing this critical study.”
Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital remains dedicated to involvement in pediatric cancer research, actively contributing to studies that shape the future of treatment. As a proud member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the hospital is committed to improving survival rates and outcomes for children facing cancer.