Results of treatment of high risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Sixteen children with high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who had one or more of the following risk factors: white cell count over 50 X 10(9)/liter, mediastinal mass, age under 2 or over 10 years, extramedullary involvement, or T-cell markers, were treated by a new protocol. All attained complete remission and 11 are still in their continuous first remission for 6-53 months. High activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the leukemic cells seems to be an independent risk factor, as in the high ADA level group, 4 out of 7 patients relapsed and died, while none of the 8 patients with low ADA levels relapsed or died.
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012306:Risk
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase