South Asia

A new randomized study designed to examine the role of cranial radiation in the prevention of central nervous system disease in Indian patients (up to 21 years of age) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is in its pilot phase. The majority of patients with ALL in India still receive cranial irradiation, and since they tend to have more extensive disease than their counterparts in the USA and Europe, as well as different clinical features, it was decided to study the need for cranial irradiation by randomized clinical trial. The trial will be initiated later this year.