Prevention of meningeal CNS involvement as a factor influencing the duration of complete remission and survival in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
The influence on the duration of CR and survival of 2 modalities (MTX + hydrocortisone IT, with and without TCT) for the prevention of meningeal CNS involvement was assessed in 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Of the 9 subjects who received MTX and hydrocortisone only, 42% were still in CR 33 months after its attainment, as opposed to 75% of the 15 who also received TCT. Survival at 33 months after diagnosis was 89% and 82% in the 2 groups. The results are compared with those obtained in an earlier series of 14 children who received no prophylactic treatment. Here CR at 45 months was 25% and survival 46%. Eight subjects died, as opposed to 3 (1 in CR) in the present series.
D000367:Age Factors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D008727:Methotrexate