Remission continuation therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Preliminary results with a multidrug treatment protocol.
Twenty-four adolescent and adult patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with the multidrug therapeutic program called IGG-74(9). Seventeen patients (71%) obtained a complete remission (CR) after induction therapy. They subsequently underwent a consolidation course with cytosine arabinoside and a seven drug maintenance regimen, lasting three years, with cyclophosphamide, 6 mercaptopurine, methotrexate, BCNU, adriamycin, vincristine and prednisone. The remission continuation treatment was well tolerated and produced an actuarial three-year disease-free survival rate of 57% and an overall median survival of 19 months. The efficacy of multidrug programs for the prevention of relapse in adults with ALL is discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence