title: Methotrexate plus L-asparaginase. An active combination for children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Forty-one children with refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were treated from March 1975 to February 1979 with a schedule-dependent combination of methotrexate (MTX) and L-asparaginase. Intravenous (IV) MTX was followed 24 hours later by IV L-asparaginase (10,000 units [U]/m2). The MTX dose was started at 60 to 100 mg/m2 and was escalated by 20 to 40 mg/m2 as tolerated. This sequence was repeated every 7 to 10 days. Eight patients (20%) achieved a complete remission (CR) and six others had a partial response (PR), with clearance of blasts from the peripheral blood and reduction of bone marrow blasts to less than 25% of nucleated marrow cells. Responding patients received a median maximum MTX dose of 120 mg/m2 (range, 60 to 220 mg/m2). The median number of courses required to achieve a CR was 6 (range, 2 to 13 courses). Toxicity consisted of allergic reactions to L-asparaginase (n = 12), stomatitis (n = 6), minimal elevation of hepatic enzymes (n = 2), and hyperglycemia (n = 1). Treatment was given on an outpatient basis in 95% of all courses. The data indicate that this combination therapy has antileukemic activity and is relatively nontoxic in childhood ANLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38101.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kalwinsky
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D001215:Asparaginase; D008727:Methotrexate