Short summary

Children treated with chemotherapy become susceptible to infections, which may include invasive mold infections (IMI). Incidences and mortality rates are often reported as high. In a retrospective cohort study, we aim to obtain an epidemiological overview of IMI in children receiving first-line treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Denmark from 2008 to 2022 and identify possible risk factors, including treatment-related adverse effects.

Rationale

Chemotherapy can weaken children's immune system, making them vulnerable to infections, including invasive mold infections (IMI), caused mainly by Aspergillus spp. The at-risk population for IMI in children with acquired immunodeficiency is patients with prolonged granulocytopenia due to hematologic malignancies treated with chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients and children receiving long-term corticosteroid treatment. Incidences and mortality rates are often reported as high.

In a retrospective cohort study, we aim to obtain an epidemiological overview of IMI in children receiving first-line treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Denmark from 2008 to 2022 and identify possible risk factors, including treatment-related adverse effects.

Objectives

1) To determine and compare the incidence of IMI in childhood AML and ALL during first-line chemotherapy in Denmark.

2) To determine and compare the mortality of IMI in childhood AML and ALL during first-line chemotherapy in Denmark.

3) To explore risk factors for IMI in childhood AML and ALL during first-line chemotherapy in Denmark.

Description of the cohort

Inclusion criteria: • Age <18 years at the time of inclusion • First-line treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) • Treatment at a Danish tertiary pediatric oncology unit (Rigshospitalet, Aarhus University Hospital, Odense University Hospital, and Aalborg University Hospital) • Treatment initiation January 1st, 2008, to December 31st, 2022

Data and biological material

All data are collected retrospectively from patient medical records and clinical laboratory databases.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, University of Southern Denmark