Acute lymphoblastic leukemia among children in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso): the results of treatment according to the protocol of the Franco-African Pediatric Oncology Group 2005

Introduction: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is being diagnosed in an increasing number of children in our Department. In the developed countries, the treatment of this hematologic malignancy can cure almost 80% of children. In developing countries, few studies focus on acute leukemias in children. The results of cancer treatments in children are disappointing in most African countries, with a survival rate of 10-15%. This study aimed to investigate the clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolutionary features of ALL in children. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of the medical records of children hospitalized for ALL between November 2009 and October 2011 in the pilot Paediatric Oncology Unit at the Charles de Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital Center, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). All children treated according to the protocol of the Franco-African Pediatric Oncology Group 2005 (FAPOG) were included in the study. Results: in total, nine children with ALL were hospitalized during the two year study period. The average age of patients was 10.77 +/- 2.82 years. They were predominantly male. The average time of hospitalization was 43.11 days +/- 39.54 days. The main symptoms were alteration of general state and fever. Nearly all the patients had tumor syndrome and bone marrow failure. Myelogram showed ALL type 1 in six of the nine patients. Eight patients underwent chemotherapy according the protocol of FAPOG 2005. Children's evolution was favorable in two patients who experienced remission, four patients had treatment failure. Six patients died. Conclusion: thanks to information campaigns, which will contribute to encourage early consultations, capacity-building measures for the medical staff allowing early diagnosis of ALL, the construction of a sufficiently equipped pediatric oncology center and a subsidy of anticancer drugs awarded by the state of Burkina Faso, the treatment of children with ALL would allow for better outcomes.