Work

Adherence-enhancing intervention and relapse in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: results from the Children’s Oncology Group randomized trial ACCL1033

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study design: Clinical Trial

Abstract: Durable remissions in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) require an 18-to-24-month-long maintenance phase with daily self-administered oral mercaptopurine (6MP) [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. In a previous multicenter study, we showed that 6MP adherence rates <95% were associated with a 2.7-fold higher relapse risk [ 4 ]. Over 40% of relapses in children entering maintenance in first remission were attributable to suboptimal 6MP adherence [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The most common reason for missing 6MP was forgetfulness [ 5 ]; adherent patients endorsed parental vigilance to overcome forgetfulness [ 7 ].

Source: Leukemia

DOI: 10.1038/s41375-026-02951-0

Authors: Smita Bhatia, Lindsey Hageman, Yanjun Chen, Aman Wadhwa, F. Lennie Wong, Elizabeth L. McQuaid, David R. Freyer, Nkechi Mba, Paula Aristizabal, Elizabeth Raetz, Wendy Landier

Institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, City Of Hope National Medical Center, City of Hope, Brown University, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Driscoll Children's Hospital, University of California San Diego, NYU Langone Health

Language: English

Topic: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia research

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,190

Funders: St. Baldrick's Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

Awards: G1318605484, G1504112592, G2901481919, G3647844574, Children's Oncology Group Statistics and Data Center, Comprehensive Approach to Improve Medicine Adherence in Pediatric Leukmia, G6520272241, G6778764405, Children's Oncology Group NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base grant, G778972947, G9000026463, G9000035374, G9000077681, G9000122489, G997771125

OpenAlex ID: W7154073254

FWCI:

Cites: 11

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