Question 1 - Consolidation Therapy:  

Pre-TED Form 2400 question 456 asks how many cycles of induction therapy were required to achieve CR. How do you answer when the patient had one induction cycle that was considered an induction failure but then the patient achieved remission on consolidation therapy?

Answer:  

In a case like above, report that it took two cycles of induction therapy to achieve a CR. The second phase of chemotherapy is known as consolidation therapy. 

Induction therapy is termed as the first or primary line of treatment with the goal of reducing the number of cancer cells and making the cancer vulnerable to additional treatment. Induction therapy can include a wide variety of treatment methods and the application and dosage are determined by weighing the factors involved in the patient's case.

Consolidation therapy is used when an ALL (or AML) patient has achieved a hematologic remission in response to induction therapy. The goal of consolidation therapy is to destroy any remaining leukemia cells and sustain remission. 

If a center chooses to use "consolidation" type therapy as its first therapy to achieve a CR, the "consolidation" therapy should be reported as induction therapy. If the patient achieved a CR after the 2nd line of therapy, the disease status should be reported as CR, not as a PIF. 

Question 2 - Immunosuppressive Agent:  

I am reporting on a recipient who is off all immunosuppression to treat GVHD, but continues to receive extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). How do I answer question 199 on the Form 2200, "Is the recipient still taking immunosuppressive agents (including PUVA) to treat or prevent GVHD?"

Answer: