BACKGROUND: Our aim was to compare two different schedules of maintenance in pediatric @entity981 ( @entity981 ) treated with a BFM-based therapy, in a randomized study: an Arm with @entity7275   +   @entity1500 (with or without @entity1891 and @entity619 pulses) versus a more intensive continuation phase. PROCEDURE: From January 1996 to November 2002, 429 eligible @entity1 with @entity981 were enrolled in a protocol with BFM-based back-bone, followed by a randomized continuation phase in standard (SRG) and intermediate (IRG) risk groups. @entity1 were randomized between Arms A and B for SRG and B or C for IRG. Arms A and C consisted of @entity7275 and @entity1500 and in Arm C, six pulses of VCR and @entity619 were added. Arm B combined four pairs of drugs rotated weekly. All risk-groups received maintenance until completing 2 years of therapy from diagnosis. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 138 (range: 96-178) months, the overall pEFS (SE) was 72 (6)% for all @entity1 and the different risk groups showed: SRG: 85 (3)%, IRG: 71 (1)%, and HRG: 42 (7)% (P-value  <= 0.0001). The pDFS (SE) according to the assigned arm of maintenance was, for Arm A: 89 (3)% and for Arm B: 85 (4)% in SRG, and, for Arm B: 77 (4)% and for Arm C: 75 (4)% in IRG, at 10 years follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences in outcome between arms of maintenance for both risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: In protocols with initial BFM-based strategy, a more intensive continuation phase did not benefit any risk group of @entity1 .

No advantage of a rotational continuation phase in XXXX in childhood treated with a BFM back-bone therapy.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'Patients', 'patients'] @entity981 :: ('MESH:D054198', 'Disease') :: ['ALL', 'acute lymphoblastic leukemia'] @entity7275 :: ('CHEBI:50667', 'Chemical') :: ['6-MP'] @entity619 :: ('MESH:D003907', 'Chemical') :: ['dexamethasone'] @entity1891 :: ('MESH:D014750', 'Chemical') :: ['vincristine'] @entity1500 :: ('CHEBI:44185', 'Chemical') :: ['MTX']
@entity981 :: (MESH:D054198,Disease) :: ['acute lymphoblastic leukemia']
