Assessing Compliance With Mercaptopurine Treatment in Younger Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in First Remission

This randomized phase III trial studies compliance to a mercaptopurine treatment intervention compared to standard of care in younger patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that has had a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer (remission). Assessing ways to help patients who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia to take their medications as prescribed may help them in taking their medications more consistently and may improve treatment outcomes.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the impact of interventions proposed in intervention program (IP) versus (vs.) education alone (EDU) on adherence to oral 6MP (mercaptopurine) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Adherence will be measured by: i) Medication Event Monitoring Systems (MEMS) (primary measure of adherence to oral 6MP, providing real-time data; ii) red cell thioguanine nucleotide (TGN) levels (providing data on chronic, systemic 6MP exposure).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Examine the modifying effect of sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, and the mediating effect of health beliefs/ knowledge on change in adherence with intervention.

II. Determine impact of IP vs. EDU on risk of relapse of ALL.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms.

ARM I: Patients receive the Patients Supply Kit containing an electronic pill monitoring system, a MEMS® medication bottle with TrackCap™ with standard resistant cap, and written instructions for the patient and pharmacist. Parents and/or caregivers are also trained to supervise patients' intake of the medication. Beginning on day 1, patients start using the MEMS® medication bottle with TrackCap™. Clinical research assistants contact patients and parents by telephone the next day to confirm that TrackCap™ is being used, to identify any obstacles, and to determine solutions. Beginning on day 29, patients and caregivers view an interactive multimedia educational program on-line or via DVD. Patients also receive a customized electronic mercaptopurine schedule and automated customized text message reminders delivered via cellular phone or web-based interface. Patients and caregivers are instructed to return the MEMS® medication bottle with TrackCap™ to the clinic by day 141.

ARM II: Patients receive the usual standard of care and the mercaptopurine from the MEMS® medication bottle with TrackCap™ as patients in arm I. Patients and caregivers also view an interactive multimedia educational program on day 29.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 5 years and then annually until 10 years from diagnosis.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of ALL, in first remission; enrollment on a Children Oncology Group (COG) therapeutic study for ALL is not required
* At the time of enrollment, patient must have completed at least 24 weeks of maintenance chemotherapy, and is scheduled to receive at least 24 more weeks of maintenance chemotherapy
* Receiving continuous oral 6MP during the maintenance phase of therapy for ALL (held only for toxicity or illness), and will be returning to the clinic every 4 weeks for scheduled appointments while enrolled on COG ACCL1033 (between days 1 and 141)
* Has a designated parent or caregiver who is willing to enter into a mutual agreement with the patient to participate in a daily supervised medication administration routine
* Able and willing to use the MEMS® TrackCap™ (e.g., not using a pillbox or prescribed liquid 6MP)
* Parent/caregiver and patient (if 12 years and older) must be willing to use a cellular telephone to receive medication reminders via text messaging during study period
* Patient and parent/caregiver must speak English or Spanish
* All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent
* All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with Down syndrome
* Patients who previously participated in or are currently participating in another intervention clinical trial designed to improve adherence