Oral Mercaptopurine Adherence in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Survey Study From the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Consortium

Background: Oral chemotherapy nonadherence is a challenge in clinical oncology. During therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), poor adherence to 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) increases relapse risk. Clinically significant nonadherence is reported in 30% of children treated for ALL on Children's Oncology Group (COG) trials. Whether nonadherence rates vary across regimens with different treatment schedules and modes of administration is unknown. Methods: We conducted an exploratory, cross-sectional survey study on parents of children (1–18 years) receiving continuation therapy on, or as per Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) ALL Consortium Protocol 11-001. Treatment required weekly visits to the clinic and 14 days of oral 6MP every 3 weeks. Survey assessed self-reported sociodemographics, medication-taking, chemotherapy comprehension, and 6MP adherence; adherence survey items were developed from published surveys. Patients were grouped as nonadherent if they endorsed missing one 6MP dose during the last cycle, or more than one dose during prior cycles, for nonmedical reasons. Results: Sixty-two families completed the surveys, all of whom had evaluable adherence data. In total, 25% of patients met the study definition of nonadherence. Twenty-three percent reported that it was “not easy” to follow administration guidelines around the dairy intake and 57% requested more teaching and educational resources. Conclusion: Self-reported nonadherence to oral 6MP in the DFCI ALL Consortium is high, with rates similar to those observed in the COG. This suggests that the additional contact during weekly infusions on the DFCI is insufficient to address barriers affecting oral chemotherapy adherence.