THE RESEARCH: Neurocognitive Functioning of Children Treated for High-Risk B-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Randomly Assigned to Different Methotrexate and Corticosteroid Treatment Strategies: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group. As part of a clinical trial for high-risk B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) conducted by Children’s Oncology Group (COG), U.S. researchers performed neurocognitive evaluations on 192 trial participants that were randomized to differing chemotherapy regimens. Neurocognitive evaluations included assessment of intellectual functioning (IQ), working memory, and processing speed (PS) and were conducted 8-24 months after completion of therapy. The primary objective of the overall clinical trial was to determine whether the mode of methotrexate delivery (high-dose vs. escalating dose) or type of steroid (prednisone vs. dexamethasone) provided superior overall survival and decreased relapse rates.
