Combination chemotherapy for bone marrow relapse in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
Thirty-four children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in relapse or resistant to initial induction received combination chemotherapy with prednisolone, vincristine, l-asparaginase, and daunorubicin. L-asparaginase was given subcutaneously on alternate days for four weeks and was well tolerated. A complete remission was achieved in 96% of children in relapse and in five out of six children resistant to induction. Remission was achieved without hospitalisation in over 60% of patients. The median duration of subsequent remission was only 13 weeks, but six out of eight children receiving a second course of the drug combination achieved a further remission. We conclude that prolonged l-asparaginase therapy in combination with an anthracycline might well be used in initial or consolidation therapy for childhood ALL.
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014750:Vincristine; D011239:Prednisolone; D001215:Asparaginase; D003630:Daunorubicin