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Late-onset lymphopenia during radiation is associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence in newly-diagnosed pediatric medulloblastoma
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  • Holly B. Lindsay,
  • Michael Scheurer,
  • Anthony K. Allam,
  • Susan McGovern,
  • Murali Chintagumpala,
  • Arnold Paulino
Holly B. Lindsay
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Michael Scheurer
Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Centers
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Anthony K. Allam
Baylor College of Medicine
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Susan McGovern
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Radiation Oncology
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Murali Chintagumpala
Texas Children's Cancer Center and Hematology Centers
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Arnold Paulino
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of Radiation Oncology
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Abstract

Background: Recent data found a correlation between lymphopenia occurring early during craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and risk of disease recurrence in newly-diagnosed childhood medulloblastoma. 1 However, the population included patients that received myelosuppressive chemotherapy prior to or during RT. Here we investigate the effect of lymphopenia during RT in patients with newly-diagnosed pediatric medulloblastoma who did not receive myelosuppressive chemotherapy with RT. Procedure: We analyzed 54 patients with newly-diagnosed medulloblastoma (ages 2-21 years) treated between 1997-2013 with CSI. Log-rank tests were used to determine survival differences, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess associations between patient characteristics and lymphopenia with disease recurrence risk. Results: 78% of patients (40/51) had grade ≥3 lymphopenia by RT week 3; 49% (23/47) improved to grade ≤2 lymphopenia by week 5. Similarly, the lowest median absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) occurred during RT week 3. Sixteen of 54 (30%) patients recurred an average of 30.2 months post-diagnosis. There was higher risk of disease recurrence in patients with grade ≥3 lymphopenia during weeks 4 (log-rank p=0.015; Cox p=0.03) and 5 (log-rank p=0.0009; Cox p=0.004) of RT. Recurrence-free survival was lower in patients with ALC Conclusions: Lymphopenia during RT weeks 4 and 5 correlates with increased risk of tumor recurrence in pediatric patients with newly-diagnosed medulloblastoma. Future studies should correlate baseline numbers of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with risks of lymphopenia during RT and tumor recurrence.
17 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
17 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
17 Oct 2023Submitted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer
18 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
10 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
07 Mar 2024Submission Checks Completed
07 Mar 2024Assigned to Editor
07 Mar 20241st Revision Received
13 Mar 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Mar 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned