LCH-IV: International Collaborative Treatment Protocol for Children and Adolescents with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

LCH-IV: International Collaborative Treatment Protocol for Children and Adolescents with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis The international efforts of the past 20 years have shown that combination therapy with vinblastine and prednisone is an effective therapy for Multi-system (MS)-LCH. The previous prospective trial LCH-III confirmed this regimen as a standard regimen for MS-LCH in patients with and without risk organ involvement. It also showed that prolonged treatment in the latter group (treatment duration of 12 vs. 6 months) is superior in preventing disease reactivations. The results of this trial are encouraging and serve as a basis for the LCH-IV study design.Due to the complexity of the disease presentations and outcomes, the LCH-IV study seeks to tailor treatment based on features at presentation and on response to treatment, leading to seven strata: Stratum I: First-line treatment for MS-LCH patients (Group 1) and patients with Single system (SS)-LCH with multifocal bone or "Central Nervous System (CNS)-risk" lesions (Group 2) Stratum II: Second-line treatment for non-risk patients (patients without risk organ involvement who fail first-line therapy or have a reactivation after completion of first-line therapy) Stratum III: Salvage treatment for risk LCH (patients with dysfunction of risk organs who fail first-line therapy) Stratum IV: Stem cell transplantation for risk LCH (patients with dysfunction of risk organs who fail first-line therapy) Stratum V: Monitoring and treatment of isolated tumorous and neurodegenerative CNS-LCH Stratum VI: Natural history and management of "other" SS-LCH (patients who do not need systemic therapy at the time of diagnosis) Stratum VII: Long-term Follow up (all patients irrespective of previous therapy will be followed for reactivation or permanent consequences once complete disease resolution has been achieved and the respective protocol treatment completed)