title: Overall and event-free survivals for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children at a single institution in Taiwan.
abstract: The results of treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have improved dramatically over the past three decades. The authors present the long-term outcome of patients (n = 151) with ALL enrolled in 4 consecutive clinical trials conducted from 1982 to 1993 at Mackay Memorial Hospital. During this period, the backbone of the treatment remained relatively unchanged, including a 3- to 4-drug remission induction, central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy, and cyclic pulses of vincristine and dexamethasone during maintenance therapy. More intensive therapy, consisting of reintensification and addition of more drugs during maintenance, was reserved for high-risk and very-high-risk patients. The overall survival and event-free survival (+/- 1 SE) were 70 +/- 4.1% and 64 +/- 4.3 %, respectively, with follow-up ranging from 7.6 to 18.7years (median 12.2 year). The isolated CNS relapse rate was 4.3%. The dropout rate significantaly decreased from 35% in 1982-1984 to 0% in 1991-1993. Although the patient population is small, the overall results for childhood ALL at the authors' hospital are encouraging as compared to earlier reports in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsi-che
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shu-Huey
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kou-Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Le-Chiao
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chin-Yueh
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Huei-Lan
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Der-Cherng
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome