[The prognostic value of immunologic markers in juvenile acute lymphatic leukemias and non-Hodgkin lymphomas].

Prognostic factors such as T-cell markers, peripheral WBC and age at diagnosis in ALL, or B-cell markers and site of primary tumor in NHL, are used today for important therapeutic decisions. Immunologic markers are said to be the most important. A survey of 7 ALL patients diagnosed in the period 1977 to 1978 shows that 4 are in continuous remission, including 3 for more than 3 years to date (2 despite a high initial WBC). These 3 had received only standard ALL treatment. Of 7 NHL cases diagnosed in 1977/1978, 4 had abdominal primaries (3 of the B-cell type). Of 2 children with mediastinal tumors, one (with a T-cell tumor) has been disease-free for 16 months, as also the patient with a cervical reticulum cell sarcoma. These 3 patients are under intensive high dose chemotherapy. These few cases show that prognostic factors are only of relative importance and need not involve a pessimistic attitude towards treatment.