title: Acute lymphocytic leukemia in children.
abstract: An overview is presented of the improvements in the prognosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia due to combined modality therapy. With the best available regimens, approximately 50% of these children have remained leukemia-free for 5 years or more. Because of these results, there is growing concern for the quality of survival and for the side effects of therapy. A case in point is a completely unexpected side effect in a current study. Nonleukemic leukoencephalopathy has developed in 8 of 20 children given intravenous methotrexate, 50-80 mg/m2 per week, as the sole agent following remission induction and CNS therapy. Thus, with longer remissions and survivals now commonly observed, a concerted effort is needed to minimize side effects while trying to improve further the efficacy of therapy.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000209:etiology; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D015122:Mercaptopurine; D008727:Methotrexate