LONG BEACH, Calif., May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Institute at Miller Children's & Women's Hospital was involved in a pivotal Children's Oncology Group study that has reshaped the standard of care for children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrated that adding blinatumomab (BLINCYTO®) to chemotherapy significantly improves survival rates in children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Findings from the Children's Oncology Group's Phase III AALL1731 trial, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, reveal that children receiving blinatumomab with chemotherapy had a three-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of 96%, compared to 87.9% for those receiving chemotherapy alone. This marks a significant advancement in pediatric leukemia treatment, with a 61% reduction in the risk of relapse, secondary malignancy, or remission-related death.
"The AALL1731 study results are truly practice-changing, further solidifying blinatumomab's role as the standard of care for a large number of children with B-ALL," says Sumit Gupta, M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, co-chair of the Children's Oncology Group AALL1731 study and oncologist and clinician investigator, Division of Haematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto. "These breakthrough data showing a significant improvement in disease-free survival are poised to bring substantial clinical value to children with newly diagnosed B-ALL."
The success of the AALL1731 has reshaped treatment protocols world-wide, offering families new hope for improved survival rates and quality of life.
"Children's Oncology Group protocols change how we treat children with cancer – this represents a landmark study integrating targeted therapy into standard chemotherapy," says Jacqueline Casillas, M.D., medical director, Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Institute, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital. "We are incredibly proud to have contributed to this groundbreaking research, which will help shape the future of pediatric cancer treatment and give more children the chance for long-term remission."
Miller Children's & Women's Hospital has a dedicated team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and research coordinators who ensures rigorous adherence to all study protocols. Together, the hospital's multidisciplinary team consistently offers patients advanced treatment that can ultimately culminate in groundbreaking results like these.
"What a privilege it has been to be involved in a Children's Oncology Group's trial that has redefined leukemia treatment," says Maki Okada, MS, CPNP-PC, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner, Miller Children's & Women's Hospital, co-study nurse for Children's Oncology Group AALL1731 study.
As research continues to advance, the integration of targeted immunotherapies like blinatumomab is transforming pediatric leukemia care. It builds upon the progress of traditional chemotherapy to further enhance outcomes for young patients.
"Over the last decade, BLINCYTO has reshaped the treatment landscape for B-ALL, offering a critical lifeline for thousands of adult and pediatric patients," says Jay Bradner, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Amgen. "These powerful new data leave us little doubt about the profound impact of this medicine for a large number of children affected by this disease. We are grateful to the Children's Oncology Group, along with the patients, families, and clinical teams, for their dedication and partnership in advancing this critical study."
Miller Children's & Women's Hospital remains dedicated to involvement in pediatric cancer research, actively contributing to studies that shape the future of treatment. As a proud member of the Children's Oncology Group, the hospital is committed to improving survival rates and outcomes for children facing cancer.
About Miller Children's & Women's Hospital:
Miller Children's & Women's Hospital (millerchildrens.org) is a part of MemorialCare, a not-for-profit, integrated healthcare system. As one of only eight free-standing children's hospitals in California, Miller Children's & Women's is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a "Best Children's Hospital" for pediatric pulmonology and lung surgery. Regionally, it ranks among the top 10 in the state — treating more than 14,000 children each year — and has become a regional pediatric destination for more than 65,000 children requiring specialized outpatient care through its Cherese Mari Laulhere Children's Village Outpatient Center and satellite centers in Torrance, Fountain Valley, and Irvine. With maternal-fetal medicine specialists and neonatologists available 24/7, Miller Children's & Women's cares for birthing people with high-risk pregnancies and premature infants all under one roof.
About The Children's Oncology Group (COG):
COG (childrensoncologygroup.org), a member of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), is the world's largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. COG unites over 10,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 200 leading children's hospitals, universities, and cancer centers across North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia in the fight against childhood cancer. Today, more than 80% of the 15,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States are cared for at COG member institutions. Research performed by COG institutions over the past 50 years has transformed childhood cancer from a virtually incurable disease to one with a combined 5-year survival rate of 86%. COG's mission is to improve the cure rate and outcomes for all children with cancer.
About Amgen:
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases.
In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions. Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average®, and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index®, which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. For more information, visit Amgen.com.
About AALL1731 (NCT03914625):
The AALL1731 study was a Phase 3 randomized trial to determine if two non-sequential cycles of BLINCYTO added to chemotherapy improved disease-free survival (DFS) in children with newly diagnosed pediatric National Cancer Institute (NCI) standard risk (SR) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The study enrolled 4,264 newly diagnosed NCI SR B-ALL patients, of whom 2,334 were risk stratified at the end of induction therapy as either SR-Average or SR-High. At the first planned interim efficacy analysis (data cutoff June 30, 2024), 1,440 of the eligible and evaluable patients had been randomized. The AALL1731 study was designed and conducted independently from industry. The Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) of the NCI sponsored the trial and provided funding to the Children's Oncology Group to conduct the study. NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, Amgen provided BLINCYTO and support through an NCI Cooperative Research and Development Agreement.
SOURCE Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital
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