Adolescent Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

Objective: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the most common malignant diseases in children. This study aimed to determine the clinical and prognostic characteristics of adolescent patients with ALL aged 15–18 years who were followed up in our center. Materials and Methods: The clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment responses, and survival and relapse rates of adolescent patients with ALL were retrospectively analyzed Results: The majority of patients were male. The median age of patients was 16 (range 15–17.9) years. About 36% and 74% of patients were diagnosed with T- and B-cell ALLs, respectively. Then, 32% of patients were stratified in the high-risk group. BCR/ABL t (9;22) positivity was detected in one patient. Recurrence was observed in 6 of 31 patients after completing the treatment. The estimated survival rate in the high-risk group at 32 months was 58%. Conclusion: Ihe prognosis and outcomes of ALL in adolescent and young adult patients are poor compared to younger age groups. Future clinical trials and advance in chemotherapeutic protocols in this age group will help increase the treatment success rates.