title: L-asparaginase used with cytosine arabinoside in treatment of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia refractory to vincristine and prednisone.
abstract: Eleven patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in relapse were treated with L-asparaginase and cytosine arabinoside (1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine) in induction therapy and the same drugs plus cyclophosphamide in maintenance therapy. Three patients had complete remissions lasting 6, 16, and 78+ weeks. One patient experienced partial remission and four had decreased bone marrow or peripheral blasts but were not clinically improved. The responses, which were brief, lasted 1-16 weeks with one exception of 78+ weeks. Four patients had allergic reactions to L-asparaginase that were unpredictable with assays of antibodies against L-asparaginase.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone