Management of B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia: expert opinion from an Indian panel via Delphi consensus method

Introduction: Currently, there are no guidelines for the management of B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) from an Indian perspective. The diagnostic workup, monitoring, and treatment of B-ALL vary among different physicians and institutes.

Objective: To develop evidence-based practical consensus recommendations for the management of B-ALL in Indian settings.

Methods: Modified Delphi consensus methodology was considered to arrive at a consensus. An expert scientific committee of 15 experts from India constituted the panel. Clinically relevant questions belonging to three major domains were drafted for presentation and discussion: (i) diagnosis and risk assignment; (ii) frontline treatment; and (iii) choice of therapy (optimal vs. real-world practice) in relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. The questionnaire was shared with the panel members through an online survey platform. The level of consensus was categorized into high (≥ 80%), moderate (60%–79%), and no consensus (< 60%). The process involved 2 rounds of discussion and 3 rounds of Delphi survey. The questions that received near or no consensus were discussed during virtual meetings (Delphi rounds 1 and 2). The final draft of the consensus was emailed to the panel for final review.

Results: Experts recommended morphologic assessment of peripheral blood or bone marrow, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and conventional cytogenetic analysis in the initial diagnostic workup. Berlin–Frankfurt–Münster (BFM)–based protocol is the preferred frontline therapy in pediatric and adolescent and young adult patients with B-ALL. BFM/German Multicenter Study Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia–based regimen is suggested in adult patients with B-ALL. Immunotherapy (blinatumomab or inotuzumab ozogamicin) followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is the optimal choice of therapy that would yield the best outcomes if offered in the first salvage in patients with R/R B-ALL. In patients with financial constraints or prior allo-HCT (real-world practice) at first relapse, standard-intensive chemotherapy followed by allo-HCT may be considered. For subsequent relapses, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy or palliative care was suggested as the optimal choice of therapy.

Conclusion: This expert consensus will offer guidance to oncologists/clinicians on the management of B-ALL in Indian settings.

1 Introduction

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous hematologic disorder characterized by the neoplastic proliferation of clonal precursor B or T cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and extramedullary locations (1). B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is the most common subtype of ALL, accounting for 85% of ALL cases (2). The survival outcomes for patients with ALL have improved substantially in the recent decade, especially among children primarily due to an increased understanding of pathogenesis and molecular genetics, the adoption of risk-stratified therapy, and the availability of newer treatment options (3, 4). A review by Arora et al. reported overall survival (OS) between 45% and 81% (follow-up: 4–5 years) in Indian children (median age: 5–10 years) with ALL (4). Radhakrishnan VS et al. reported a 5-year OS of 5.5%–58% and overall relapse rates between 24.3% and 57.1% (median time: 9–24 months) in adolescent and young adult (AYA) and adult patients (aged 10 years and above) with ALL (5). The monthly financial burden of childhood ALL has been reported to be 7.2 times the monthly per capita income of India (5). The burden of ALL in AYA patients appears to be even higher in India because India has a predominately younger patient population (5, 6). This also levies a substantial financial burden on a developing country like India due to the loss of productive years of both the patient and the caregiver, exorbitant treatment costs, and lack of comprehensive health insurance coverage (5). Further, laboratory evaluation of ALL is complex and often relies on advanced laboratory techniques, and financial challenges create significant problems in the timely delivery of treatment (5, 7). These often cause long interruptions or abandoning of treatment, often after successful initiation, which further leads to more resistant forms of the disease (8). It has been shown that intensification of treatment with combination therapies can lead to improvement in OS. However, the intensification of therapy also remains a significant challenge in India (8). This is due to limited resources to manage treatment-related adverse events, high prevalence of multidrug-resistant infections, and prolonged cytopenia with infections that further complicate cancer care (5, 8). Currently, there is a lack of consensus on the diagnostic workup and monitoring of B-ALL, and it varies among different physicians and institutes. In addition, there is a lack of consensus on the utility of different treatment options in frontline and relapsed/refractory (R/R) settings. In recent times, novel targeted immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, and cellular therapies, have shown significant promise in R/R adult B-ALL patients (9, 10). In lieu of the gaps identified, a countrywide consensus regarding protocols for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-ups that incorporate recent therapies is the need of the hour to improve treatment outcomes of B-ALL in India (5). Given the changing treatment landscape and the challenges faced in India, a panel of experts assembled to understand the current treatment scenario of B-ALL in India and reach a consensus regarding diagnostic and treatment approaches best suitable in the Indian setting. In this article, we have summarized expert opinions and recommendations on (i) diagnostic workup and risk assignment of B-ALL; (ii) frontline treatment of B-ALL; and (iii) choice of therapy in R/R B-ALL. Resource availability and cost constraints were considered while drafting consensus recommendations.

2 Methodology

2.1 Panel selection

A panel of 15 experts was selected (Figure 1) based on their academic track records and involvement in clinical research and experience in the field of B-ALL from various areas of the country (Table S1 in Supplementary Material). A chair was identified among the panel members to drive the consensus process.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1 Overview of the consensus process used to create the clinical consensus statement.

2.2 Evidence review

A literature review was carried out based on data from the PubMed database to identify relevant articles between January 2001 and September 2022 using keywords such as “B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia,” “diagnosis,” “management,” “relapsed/refractory,” and “guidelines.” The questionnaire was broadly segregated to include relevant questions under:

● Diagnosis and risk assignment

● Frontline treatment

● Choice of therapy in R/R settings (optimal and real-world practice)

Defining optimal choice: Optimal choice is the best possible option supported by evidence and is currently available in India, irrespective of cost or any other constraints. This should consider the absence of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy for second and subsequent relapse and in patients who had already undergone allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT).

Defining real-world practice: Real-world choice is the best possible option currently available in India, keeping in mind cost and other constraints. This includes the option of a second allo-HCT in patients who have received an allo-HCT upfront or at first relapse.

The questionnaire was finalized in discussion with the chair and was rolled out to the panel members through an online survey platform (Delphi survey—round 1).

2.3 Consensus process

The experts discussed the results of the survey during a virtual expert panel meeting on April 22, 2022 (discussion—round 1). Modified Delphi consensus methodology was considered to arrive at a consensus (11). The level of consensus (Table 1) was categorized into high (≥ 80%), moderate (60%–79%), and no consensus (< 60%) (12). The differences in opinions were also discussed for modification of statements for the next round of voting (Delphi survey—round 2). The questions that received near or no consensus in the first round were discussed during the second meeting conducted virtually on August 6, 2022 (discussion—round 2). The recommendations were based on the responses to revised questions. The final round of voting was conducted to determine the definitive acceptance or rejection of a recommendation (Delphi survey—round 3). The final draft of the consensus was emailed to the panel for final review.

TABLE 1

Table 1 Level of consensus.

3 Results

The experts (N=15) analyzed evidence and guidelines on B-ALL management published between January 2001 and September 2022. Experts made their decisions based on the available evidence and their current practices in India. An effort was made to address optimal vs. real-world management of B-ALL based on loco-regional constraints. This article will first discuss the international guideline (the National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN] and the European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO]) recommendations followed by expert consensus.

3.1 Diagnostic workup and risk assignment of B-ALL

The diagnosis of ALL generally requires the demonstration of ≥ 20% bone marrow lymphoblasts upon hematopathologist’s review of bone marrow aspirate and biopsy materials (13–15). The NCCN and ESMO clinical practice guidelines recommend a comprehensive diagnostic approach in patients with ALL (13–15). This includes the following:

• Morphologic assessment of Wright–Giemsa–stained bone marrow aspirate smears, hematoxylin–eosin–stained core biopsy, and clot sections

• Immunophenotyping

  o Myeloperoxidase expression

  o B-lineage markers (CD19, CD79a, CD22, CD10, CD20, CD24, cIgM, and sIg [kappa or lambda])

  o T-lineage markers (CD3, CD1a, CD2, CD5, CD7, CD4, CD8, and TCR α/β or γ/δ)

• Cytogenetic analysis

• New genetics/genomics (gene expression profiling and next-generation sequencing [NGS])

The NCCN guideline also recommends a computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the head with contrast (in patients with major neurologic symptoms), testing for opportunistic infections, and an early allo-HCT evaluation at the time of initial diagnosis (14, 15). Optimal risk stratification and treatment planning require testing marrow or peripheral blood lymphoblasts for specific recurrent gene abnormalities using: (i) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for recurrent genetic abnormalities; (ii) reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for the detection of BCR-ABL1 gene rearrangements, denoting an underlying t (9;22)(q34.1;q11.2)/BCR-ABL1 chromosomal translocation typical of Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) ALL; and (iii) NGS for gene fusions and pathogenic mutations (13, 14).

The American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend testing for (7):

● t(12;21)(p13.2;q22.1) [ETV6-RUNX1]; t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) [BCR-ABL1]; t(v;11q23.3) [KMT2A (MLL) translocation]; iAMP21; and trisomy 4 and 10 in pediatric B-ALL.

● t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) [BCR-ABL1] and t(v;11q23.3) [KMT2A (MLL)] translocation in adult B-ALL.

Consensus/recommendations on the diagnostic workup of B-ALL

The initial workup for B-ALL patients should include an evaluation of medical history and physical examination, along with laboratory and imaging studies (Figure 2). Experts recommended complete blood count, morphologic assessment of peripheral blood or bone marrow, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and conventional cytogenetic analysis in the initial diagnostic workup (high consensus). A minimum panel of markers that includes CD19 plus CD22 for B-ALL is suggested (high consensus). Other recommended tests include hepatitis B/C and HIV evaluations. Female patients in reproductive age may undergo pregnancy testing (moderate consensus), and all male patients should be evaluated for testicular involvement of disease (high consensus). Experts suggested a CT/MRI scan of the head with contrast to detect meningeal disease, chloromas, or central nervous system (CNS) bleeding for patients with major neurologic symptoms at diagnosis. CNS involvement should be evaluated through lumbar puncture at the time of initial scheduled intrathecal therapy (high consensus). Assessment of cardiac function is important for patients with prior cardiac history, cardiac dysfunction, and elderly patients (moderate consensus). Screening for opportunistic infections, early allo-HCT evaluation, and donor search should be considered (moderate consensus).

FIGURE 2

Figure 2 Initial diagnostic workup: Summary of expert consensus/recommendations. B-ALL, B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia; BM, Bone marrow; PB, Peripheral blood; CT, Computed tomography; MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging; IV, Intravenous; NGS, Next-generation sequencing; CGH, Comparative genomic hybridization; SNP, Single-nucleotide polymorphism; GEP, Gene expression profiling; TLS, Tumor lysis syndrome; DIC, Disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Risk-directed treatment is an essential aspect of B-ALL management. Thus, it is important to assign risk categories to patients to ensure appropriate treatment decisions. The assignment of risk categories is primarily dependent on the availability of resources. The expert panel group at the 2013 Asian Oncology Summit proposed a four-tier system (basic, limited, enhanced, and maximum) based on which recommendations could be developed (16). In the case of basic resource settings, risk assignment can be based on age, presenting leukocyte count, and early treatment response as assessed by peripheral blood blast cell count. Additional molecular and cytogenetic features can be evaluated with the availability of enhanced resources (16). This stratification was modified and adapted to the Indian setting to evaluate the experts’ opinions (Table 2).

TABLE 2

Table 2 Risk assignment stratification of B-ALL.

Consensus/recommendations on risk assignment criteria

Experts recommended the following risk assignment criteria best suitable in Indian settings (levels 2 and 3; moderate consensus):

● Age, leukocyte count, immunophenotype (T cell vs. B cell), prednisone response or day 8 peripheral blood or bone marrow response, end of induction bone marrow response. If available, RT-PCR for BCR-ABL1, cytogenetics for Philadelphia chromosome, or FISH for BCR-ABL1

● RT-PCR for BCR-ABL1 and MLL-AFF1, cytogenetics for hyperdiploidy > 50, FISH for BCR-ABL1, and flow cytometry for MRD measurements

3.2 Frontline treatment of B-ALL

The ESMO recommends age stratification for appropriate treatment of ALL as the treatment outcome of ALL is often age-associated (AYA: 15/18 to 35/40 years; adults: 35/40 to ≤ 55/60 years; elderly: above 55/60 years), hence necessitating age-based protocols (13). In India, currently there is a lack of consensus regarding age thresholds to categorize pediatric, AYA, and adult ALL (5). Various clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy regimens (Berlin–Frankfurt–Münster [BFM], Multicenter protocol 841 [MCP-841], Children’s Oncology Group [COG], United Kingdom Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [UKALL]) in the front line in children with ALL (15). Adapting these protocols in Indian settings has improved patient outcomes in the last decade; however, treatment-related mortality (11%–25%) and disease relapse (relapse rates: 15%–41%) have been reported in children in Indian settings (17–19). In 2013, the Indian Collaborative Childhood Leukaemia group (ICiCLe) developed a risk-stratified treatment protocol for the management of first presentation ALL based on cytogenetics and MRD levels (at the end of induction) in children (aged: 1–18 years) (20). Initial risk classification was based on lymphoblast lineage, age, leucocyte count, disease bulk, CNS disease status, leukaemia cytogenetics and prednisolone response at treatment day 8. The final risk stratification was determined at the end of the induction treatment phase and was based on treatment response, including remission status and the level of bone marrow MRD (20). The protocol is specific to Indian patients with ALL and is designed to (i) decrease toxicity and mortality in induction by shortening the duration of prednisolone therapy in patients with non–high-risk ALL and (ii) improve event-free survival in risk groups by replacing doxorubicin with mitoxantrone in delayed intensification (20). In India, treatment protocols used in AYA and adult ALL include MCP-841, BFM-90, chemotherapy plus tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), German Multicenter Study Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GMALL), and hyper-cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone (hyper-CVAD) (5). A real-world study by Malhotra P et al. found that a modified BFM regimen in adult ALL patients (> 12 years) in resource-limited settings resulted in complete remission (CR) of 85.6% after induction (5-year event-free survival: 21.6%) (21). A retrospective study was done on Indian adult ALL patients, which showed a 5-year OS of 38% and a CR rate of 82.2% with a modified GMALL regimen (8, 22). A more recent report from the Indian Acute Leukaemia Research Database and Hematology Cancer Consortium highlighted that BFM protocol (BFM-90, BFM-95, or BFM-2000) was the most common regimen used in AYA patients (aged 15–29 years) with ALL (23).

Consensus/recommendations on frontline treatment of B-ALL

According to the experts, age, risk stratification, comorbidities, and financial constraints are crucial factors in determining treatment strategy. Patients should be categorized into AYA and adults for the optimal choice of the treatment protocol. However, there was no consensus on the age threshold to be used in practice. Experts recommended BFM-based protocol as frontline therapy in pediatric and AYA patients with B-ALL (high consensus). BFM/GMALL-based regimen is suggested in adult patients with B-ALL (moderate consensus). Figure 3 lists treatment protocols used in pediatric, AYA, and adult patients with B-ALL.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3 Treatment protocols for children, AYA, and adults with B-ALL: Survey results based on experts’ clinical practice. BFM, Berlin–Frankfurt–Munster; CVAD, Cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin), and dexamethasone; UKALL, United Kingdom Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; GMALL, German Multicenter Study Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; ICiCLe, The Indian Childhood Collaborative Leukemia; AYA, Adolescents and young adults.

3.2.1 MRD monitoring

The NCCN guidelines state that MRD is an essential component of patient evaluation over the course of sequential therapy (end of induction, consolidation, and surveillance) in pediatric and adult patients with ALL (14, 15). The ESMO guidelines recommend MRD monitoring to guide the decision of chemotherapy or allo-HCT after consolidation in patients with ALL (13). Furthermore, prolonged monitoring of BCR-ABL1 MRD levels is recommended, associated with resistance mutation screening in patients with persistent MRD detection or re-increasing MRD levels (13). Table 3 lists different methods for MRD assessment in patients with B-ALL and levels of sensitivity (24–26).

TABLE 3

Table 3 Different methods for MRD assessment and level of sensitivity in patients with B-ALL.

Consensus/recommendations on MRD assessment

MRD is the preferred criterion for determining outcomes in patients with B-ALL. Experts recommended flow cytometry for MRD assessment in patients with B-ALL. The consensus statements on MRD monitoring in patients with B-ALL have been summarized in Table 4.

TABLE 4

Table 4 Expert consensus/recommendations on MRD monitoring in patients with B-ALL.

3.2.2 CNS prophylaxis

CNS prophylaxis aims to prevent relapse or CNS disease and mainly includes intrathecal or systemic chemotherapy. Cranial irradiation is often associated with secondary neoplasms, neurocognitive dysfunction, endocrinopathy, and neurotoxicity (27). A combination of high-dose systemic therapy with CNS penetration (e.g., methotrexate or cytarabine) and intrathecal chemotherapy is quite effective, with CNS recurrence incidence being < 6% (28, 29). The NCCN recommends CNS prophylaxis to be given throughout the entire course of treatment to all patients (15, 30).

Consensus/recommendations

● In pediatric and AYA B-ALL patients, intrathecal methotrexate and systemic therapy is the preferred option for CNS prophylaxis (moderate consensus).

● In adult B-ALL patients, there was no consensus on the choice of therapy.

Experts agreed that CNS prophylaxis is a must in adult B-ALL patients; however, there was no consensus on the choice of therapy. Experts suggested that a combination of systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy may be considered for CNS prophylaxis in adult patients with B-ALL. The use of CNS irradiation in addition to intrathecal methotrexate may be advised based on institutional experience and infrastructure in resource-limited settings.

3.3 Treatment of R/R B-ALL

3.3.1 Prognostic factors

The definitions for “early” and “late” relapse differ among different study groups. The BFM group study categorized time to relapse or length of first CR as (i) very early relapse (less than 18 months from diagnosis); (ii) early relapse (more than 18 months from diagnosis and less than 6 months of completion of frontline therapy); and (iii) late relapse (more than 6 months after the completion of frontline therapy) (31). In contrast, the COG defined “very early time to relapse” as the length of first CR less than 18 months from initial diagnosis; “intermediate” as 18–36 months after initial diagnosis; “early” relapse as within 36 months after initial diagnosis; or (iv) “late” relapse as 36 months or more after diagnosis (31). The ESMO and NCCN guidelines state that age (< 1 year old or ≥10 years) and white blood cell (WBC) count (50 X 10⁹ cells/L) on presentation are independent, clinically significant prognostic factors predicting lower CR rate and shorter CR duration in patients with B-ALL (13, 14). Unfavorable cytogenetics, time to relapse, site of relapse, response to first salvage therapy, performance of allo-HCT, and MRD during second CR and before allo-HCT are significant prognostic factors for survival after relapse (14, 31, 32).

Consensus/recommendations on prognostic factors

Experts used the BFM study group definition of “early” and “late” relapse in their clinical practice (high consensus). The expert panel agreed that the response to salvage (high consensus) and performance of allo-HCT (moderate consensus) are two key prognostic factors for CR and survival among relapsed B-ALL patients. Age, time to relapse, pre-transplant MRD negativity, donor availability, and type are other factors that need to be considered.

3.3.2 Choice of therapy for R/R B-ALL

Salvage treatment after B-ALL relapse involves inducing a complete remission 2 (CR2) with intensive chemotherapy and applying consolidation, re-intensification, and maintenance therapy, or allo-HCT as a further intensification of treatment. Several studies have reported poor survival outcomes (median OS: 4.5–6 months; 5-year OS: 3%–10%) with conventional chemotherapy regimens in relapsed adult B-ALL patients (33–36). The ESMO 2016 guidelines suggest the use of new-generation TKIs, according to the results of mutational analysis of BCR-ABL1 transcripts in patients with relapsed Ph+ ALL (13). In 2017, blinatumomab (bispecific anti-CD3/CD19 monoclonal antibody) and inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO; calicheamicin-based antibody–drug conjugate targeting CD22) received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration for R/R precursor B-ALL (Ph+ and Ph−) in adults based on promising results from phase II and phase III clinical trials (37–42). Both InO and blinatumomab have shown beneficial outcomes in terms of achieving MRD negativity (39, 43). InO treatment has shown improved rates of CR/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery and OS vs. standard chemotherapy (SC) in adult R/R ALL with high baseline disease burden (bone marrow blast [BMB] > 90%) (44). Consequently, a greater proportion of patients in the InO vs. SC arm proceeded to stem cell transplantation, irrespective of baseline BMB percentage (44).

In pediatric R/R B-ALL patients (Ph+ and Ph−), the NCCN guideline recommend (15):

● Early or late first relapse: Initial treatment with systemic therapy. If patients experience CR2 and are MRD-negative, the options are either to continue chemotherapy and receive maintenance therapy or allo-HCT. In the case of MRD-positive or if the patient experiences the first relapse after a prior allo-HCT, the options are chemotherapy, blinatumomab, CAR-T therapy, or InO before the first or second allo-HCT.

● Multiple relapses: Treatment options include chemotherapy, blinatumomab, CAR-T therapy, or InO and allo-HCT as consolidation therapy.

In Ph+ R/R B-ALL patients (AYA and adults), after ABL1 kinase domain mutation testing, the more recent NCCN 2021 guideline recommends (14):

● TKI with or without chemotherapy followed by allo-HCT

● Blinatumomab with or without TKI followed by allo-HCT

● InO with or without bosutinib (TKI-intolerant or refractory B-ALL) followed by allo-HCT

● CAR-T therapy (in patients under 26 years with refractory B-ALL or patients with ≥ 2 relapses and failure of 2 TKIs) followed by allo-HCT.

However, in Ph− R/R B-ALL patients (AYA and adults), after MRD assessment, blinatumomab, InO, CAR-T therapy, or chemotherapy may be considered followed by allo-HCT (14). In 2018, InO received permission from Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India, for the treatment of adults with R/R CD22-positive B-ALL. It is also indicated in patients with Ph+ R/R B-cell precursor ALL who have failed treatment with at least one TKI therapy (45). Currently, the CDSCO has not approved blinatumomab and CAR-T therapy for the management of R/R B-ALL except under a trial setting in India.

Consensus/recommendations

Optimal choice of therapy for early or late first relapse: Experts favored immunotherapy (InO or blinatumomab) followed by allo-HCT for the treatment of R/R Ph+ and Ph− B-ALL patients after the first relapse (early or late; medullary/extramedullary) and to achieve MRD negativity (high consensus). The addition of TKI should always be considered for Ph+ B-ALL patients. Experts agreed that InO would be the optimal treatment of choice in adult patients with R/R B-ALL with BMB ≥ 50% if there are no resource limitations (high consensus). Concurrent use of InO with intrathecal chemotherapy was agreed upon for R/R B-ALL patients with systemic relapse and CNS disease (moderate consensus). To balance the risk of relapse against the potential risk of conditioning regimen-related toxicity, 4–6 weeks was agreed upon between the last dose of InO and allo-HCT (high consensus). Regarding the duration between the last dose of InO and the allo-HCT (where there is a need to start maintenance therapy or another chemotherapy schedule as a bridge for time to transplant), there was an agreement that if the transplant is delayed more than 6 weeks, there is a need to start such therapy as early as possible. However, no consensus was achieved regarding duration with opinions varying between 4 and 8 weeks.

Real-world practice for early or late first relapse: In patients with financial constraints or prior allo-HCT at first relapse, experts recommended standard-intensive chemotherapy (with TKI for Ph+ B-ALL patients) followed by allo-HCT (high consensus). For late relapse, risk stratification and considerations for transplant would depend upon the protocol.

Optimal choice of therapy for early or late second and subsequent relapse: For subsequent relapses, CAR-T therapy (if available) or palliative care (in the absence of CAR-T therapy) was suggested (early or late; medullary/extramedullary), assuming that immunotherapy has already been used in the first relapse (high consensus).

Real-world practice for early or late second and subsequent relapse: No consensus was achieved for the treatment of patients with R/R B-ALL (Ph+ or Ph−) in post-transplant second or subsequent relapse.

Isolated testicular relapse is not treated differently from other relapses if it is an early relapse (high consensus). There was no consensus on whether isolated testicular relapse should be treated differently from other relapses in case of late relapse. There was a divided opinion between palliative care, low-intensity chemotherapy, and immunotherapy regarding the optimal choice of therapy for older R/R B-ALL patients (aged ≥ 60) unfit for standard-intensity chemotherapy (no consensus).

Table 5 summarizes expert recommendations for the management of R/R B-ALL patients.

TABLE 5

Table 5 Choice of therapy in relapsed/refractory B-ALL: Summary of expert consensus/recommendations.

4 Discussion

The survival rates for patients with ALL have improved in the recent decade. Improvements are largely due to advances in the understanding of disease pathogenesis, molecular genetics, incorporation of MRD testing, advent of new therapeutic agents, adoption of risk-directed treatment, use of allo-HCT, and improvements in supportive care. In recent times, novel targeted immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody–drug conjugates, and cellular therapies, have shown significant promise in R/R settings. The biggest problem for resource-poor countries like India is devising treatment strategies that will enable patients to avail treatment at reasonable costs and obtain substantial treatment benefits. High out-of-pocket expenditures for ALL treatment and the absence of a nationwide comprehensive universal health insurance scheme are some of the biggest constraints in the management of ALL in India.

Currently, there are no country-specific guidelines/recommendations for the diagnosis and management of B-ALL from an Indian perspective. Moreover, due to the scarcity of well-designed randomized controlled trials conducted in India, oncologists rely on data from the Western world. There is a lack of consensus on the utility of treatment options in frontline and R/R settings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first practical consensus document to guide clinicians on diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment approach in line with the latest available evidence and guideline recommendations in Western countries. This consensus document will offer guidance to Indian hematologists/oncologists and help achieve consistency in B-ALL management across various healthcare settings.

Strengths: The panel members were selected to best represent the breadth of knowledge and clinical expertise in the field from all over India. There was no selection bias during the development of the expert committee.

Limitation:

● Hematopathologists were not part of the Delphi consensus panel. The panel was only limited to the clinicians with an active practice in the field.

● The patient’s voice was not included in the consensus process.

● Supportive care and follow-up are integral parts of the management of B-ALL In the questions related to the choice of therapy for R/R B-ALL, palliative care was one of the options. The panel did discuss on palliative care; however, the discussions were not elaborate.

5 Conclusion

In this article, we have summarized the Indian consensus on the diagnosis and management of B-ALL. Experts recommended BFM-based protocol in the front line in pediatric and AYA patients with B-ALL. BFM/GMALL-based regimen was suggested in adult patients with B-ALL. In R/R B-ALL patients with residual disease, alternative treatment approaches such as immunotherapies can enhance treatment outcomes. Immunotherapy was agreed upon as the optimal choice of therapy that would yield the best outcomes if offered in the first salvage in R/R B-ALL. InO was recommended in R/R B-ALL patients with high tumor burden and CNS relapse. In patients with financial constraints or prior transplant at first relapse (real-world practice), standard-intensive chemotherapy (with TKI for Ph+ B-ALL patients) followed by allo-HCT may be considered. For older adults, because traditional chemotherapy has been poorly tolerated, current strategies for B-ALL (both Ph+ and Ph−) rely on palliation, low-intensity chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. CAR-T therapy or palliation was suggested after transplant if patients experience recurrent relapses.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.VM contributed in the process of concept, design and moderation of the Delphi consensus activity along with drafting, review and finalization of manuscript.

Funding

This study is supported by Pfizer India Ltd.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank BioQuest Solutions for their editorial support.

Conflict of interest

This study received funding from Pfizer India Ltd. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1171568/full#supplementary-material

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