title: Improved results of treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: We designed a treatment program to improve the outcome for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Treatment included a remission-induction phase followed by intensive alternating cycles of non-cross-resistant chemotherapy and prolonged oral maintenance therapy. Eighty-one consecutive previously untreated patients were entered on this study. Ninety-four percent of patients entered complete remission. A Kaplan-Meier analysis predicts that 53% +/- 9% (SEM) of patients in remission will remain free of disease at 3 years. Neither age, sex, WBC count, nor immunophenotype had a significant effect on remission duration. This program of intensive cyclical chemotherapy has improved the disease-free survival of patients with adult ALL.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Linker
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Farbstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis