title: Chemoimmunotherapy with levamisole in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were in two consecutive protocols and in complete remission (CR) with maintenance therapy, were randomized to receive or not receive levamisole. A total of 15 of 55 low-risk patients of protocol 10-LLA-72 with levamisole had relapses, compared with 25 of 54 not receiving levamisole; 67 and 49%, respectively, remain in CR at 48 months (P less than 0.025). In protocol 1-LLA-76, 14 of 91 low-risk patients on levamisole and 25 of 93 patients receiving levamisole had relapses; 78 and 61%, respectively, remain in CR at 36 months (P less than 0.05). Seventeen of 39 high-risk patients (children with a leukocyte count higher than 50,000 and adults) receiving levamisole had relapses compared with 37 of 61 not on levamisole. The DNCB skin test showed at 18 and 24 months a 74 and 85% positivity in the levamisole groups vs. a 38 and 35% positivity in the control group (P less than 0.025). We conclude that levamisole prolongs the duration of CR and survival in low-risk patients with ALL.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007978:Levamisole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007978:Levamisole