Comparison of idarubicin to daunomycin in a randomized multidrug treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia at first bone marrow relapse: A report from the Children's Cancer Group

The outcome of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and bone marrow relapse has been unsatisfactory largely because of failure to present subsequent leukemia relapses. Ninety-six patients were enrolled and received vincristine, prednisone, L-asparaginase, and an anthracycline as reinduction therapy. Ninety-two patients were randomized to receive either daunomycin (DNR) or idarubicin (IDR). After achievement of second complete remission (CR2), maintenance chemotherapy included the same anthracycline, IDR or DNR, high-dose cytarabine, and escalating-dose methotrexate. Compared to DNR (45 mg/m²/week × 3), IDR (12.5 mg/m²/week × 3) was associated with prolonged myelosuppression and more frequent serious infections. Halfway through the study, the dose of IDR was reduced to 10 mg/m². Overall, second remission was achieved in 71% of patients. Reinduction rate was similar for IDR and DNR. Reasons for induction failure differed; none of 15, 1 of 5, and 5 of 7 reinduction failures were due to infection for DNR, IDR (10 mg/m²), and IDR (12.5 mg/m²), respectively. Two-year event-free survival (EFS) was better among patients who received IDR (12.5 mg/m²) (27 ± 18%) compared to DNR (10 ± 8%, P = 0.05) and IDR (10 mg/m²) (6 ± 12%, P = 0.02). However, after 3 years of follow-up, late events in the high-dose IDR group result in a similar EFS to the lower-dose IDR and DNR groups. In conclusion, IDR is an effective agent in childhood ALL. When used weekly at 12.5 mg/m² during induction, the EFS outcome during the first 2 years of treatment appears better than lower-dose IDR or DNR (45 mg/m²), although this difference was not sustained at longer periods of follow-up. Increased hematopoietic toxicity seen at this dose might be reduced through the use of supportive measures, such as hematopoietins and intestinal decontamination. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Low-dose daunorubicin in induction treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: no long-term cardiac damage in a randomized study of the Dutch Childhood Leukemia Study Group

BACKGROUND: To investigate late cardiotoxicity in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors after induction treatment with or without daunorubicin (DNR; 25 mg/m(2), i.v., weekly, x4, cumulative dose 100 mg/m(2)). PROCEDURE: Cardiac function was assessed in 90 event-free survivors of childhood ALL, 11.4-17.8 years (median 14.8 years) after treatment according to the DCLSG protocol ALL V. In this protocol patients were randomized to receive (group B) or not to receive (group A) DNR 25 mg/m(2)/week i.v. during the first 4 weeks of induction treatment. Age at diagnosis was 1.2-14.9 years (median 4.5 years). The cardiac evaluation consisted of a history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), 24 hr ambulatory ECG, and echocardiography. RESULTS: Electrocardiographic data, arrhythmias, left ventricular dimensions, left ventricular contractility, wall stress, and diastolic function were within normal limits in both groups. No difference could be shown between data from group A (n = 40) and group B (n = 50). CONCLUSIONS: No late cardiac damage was demonstrated in childhood ALL survivors after induction treatment including a cumulative dose of 100 mg/m(2) DNR, compared to survivors who received the same treatment but without DNR. DNR 100 mg/m(2) given in 4 doses of 25 mg/m(2)/week appears to be a safe dose in induction treatment of ALL.     

Combination chemotherapy for bone marrow relapse in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Thirty-four children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in relapse or resistant to initial induction received combination chemotherapy with prednisolone, vincristine, l-asparaginase, and daunorubicin. L-asparaginase was given subcutaneously on alternate days for four weeks and was well tolerated. A complete remission was achieved in 96% of children in relapse and in five out of six children resistant to induction. Remission was achieved without hospitalisation in over 60% of patients. The median duration of subsequent remission was only 13 weeks, but six out of eight children receiving a second course of the drug combination achieved a further remission. We conclude that prolonged l-asparaginase therapy in combination with an anthracycline might well be used in initial or consolidation therapy for childhood ALL.     

Combination chemotherapy for bone marrow relapse in childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia (all)

Thirty-four children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in relapse or resistant to initial induction received combination chemotherapy with prednisolone, vincristine, 1-asparaginase, and daunorubicin. L-asparaginase was given subcutaneously on alternate days for four weeks and was well tolerated. A complete remission was achieved in 96% of children in relapse and in five out of six children resistant to induction. Remission was achieved without hospitalisation in over 60% of patients. The median duration of subsequent remission was only 13 weeks, but six out of eight children receiving a second course of the drug combination achieved a further remission. We conclude that prolonged 1-asparaginase therapy in combination with an anthracycline might well be used in initial or consolidation therapy for childhood ALL.     

Clinical and cytokinetic aspects of remission induction of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): Addition of an anthracycline to vincristine and prednisone

Fifty-six untreated patients with childhood with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were randomized to receive one of three remission induction regimens: vincristine and prednisone (VP), vincristine, prednisone and daunorubicin (VPD), or vincristine, prednisone and adriamycin (VPA). The complete remission rate was similar for all three groups. Although the anthracycline regimens caused somewhat more rapid leukemic cell reduction than the VP only group, this difference was not significant. Labeling index reduction between study days 1 and 5 was significantly greater (p < 0.001) with an anthracycline than for the VP group, but there was no difference between the two anthracyclines. Granulocytopenia during induction was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in both the VPD and VPA groups as compared with VP alone. A significantly higher rate of infectious morbidity (p < 0.01) was associated with the addition of either anthracycline, but to date no significant differences in remission duration or survival have been observed. The addition of anthracyclines to VP for remission induction in childhood ALL has theoretical advantages, but may be undesirable because of increased morbidity.     

Clinical and cytokinetic aspects of remission induction of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): addition of an anthracycline to vincristine and prednisone.

Fifty-six untreated patients with childhood with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were randomized to receive one of three remission induction regimens: vincristine and prednisone (VP), vincristine, prednisone and daunorubicin (VPD), or vincristine, prednisone and adriamycin (VPA). The complete remission rate was similar for all three groups. Although the anthracycline regimens caused somewhat more rapid leukemic cell reduction than the VP only group, this difference was not significant. Labeling index reduction between study days 1 and 5 was significantly greater (p less than 0.001) with an anthracycline than for the VP group, but there was no difference between the two anthracyclines. Granulocytopenia during induction was significantly increased (p less than 0.05) in both the VPD and VPA groups as compared with VP alone. A significantly higher rate of infectious morbidity (p less than 0.01) was associated with the addition of either anthracycline, but to date no significant differences in remission duration or survival have been observed. The addition of anthracyclines to VP for remission induction in childhood ALL has theoretical advantages, but may be undesirable because of increased morbidity.     

OXIDATIVE STRESS DISTURBANCES IN ERYTHROCYTES OF ß-THALASSEMIA

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a primary hematologic malignancy that is especially common in childhood, occurs relatively rarely as a secondary malignant neoplasm. Available data indicate that ALL often follows chemoradiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma. Perivascular epithelioid tumor (PEComa), a primitive mesenchymal tissue origin, can be classified as a soft tissue sarcoma. An 11-year-old girl was diagnosed with ALL secondary to chemoradiotherapy (vincristine, ifosfamide, and anthracycline) and radiotherapy comprising 45 Gy to the whole pelvis for PEComa. ALL, FAB L2, and immunophenotypically pro-B developed 16 months after the final chemotherapy treatment. Moreover, a cytogenetic study of lymphoblasts showed t(1;11)(p32;q23). Herein, the authors report a case of secondary ALL that might be related to a previously used intercalating DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor (anthracycline) for a very rare sarcoma, PEComa.     

Evaluation of left ventricular function in asymptomatic children about to undergo anthracycline-based chemotherapy for acute leukemia: an outcome study

BACKGROUND: Cardiac toxicity is a well-recognized potential complication of anthracycline use. Children treated with anthracyclines undergo several cardiac screening procedures before therapy, but the usefulness of these pretherapy cardiac studies has never been evaluated. The authors examined whether induction chemotherapy in patients with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was altered based on a pretherapy left ventricular shortening fraction (SF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 134 children registered on treatment protocols of the Pediatric Oncology Group for high-risk B-precursor and T-cell ALL between 1987 and 1998 were reviewed. Demographic information consisting of age at diagnosis, sex, and past cardiac history was collected, as were the results of all echocardiographic evaluations for SF and actions taken based on these evaluations. The outcome measured was whether any changes were made in induction therapy based on initial SF. In addition, secondary SF results obtained at the cumulative anthracycline dose range of 90 to 150 mg/m2 were studied to determine whether modifications of future chemotherapy were made after this limited exposure. RESULTS: Three of 128 children (2.3%) without a previous cardiac history had an initial SF on their pretherapy echocardiogram that prompted additional evaluation but no change in therapy. A secondary analysis of SF in 85 children who completed anthracycline doses of 90 to 150 mg/m2 was performed. There were three (3.5%) with abnormal study results who were evaluated further. Again, no changes were made in the anthracycline doses based on these findings. No cardiac dysfunction occurred among these six patients during later follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of a previous cardiac history or signs and symptoms or cardiac disease, pretherapy evaluation of left ventricular function may not be indicated in children about to undergo anthracycline-based treatment of acute leukemia. The timing of initiation of cardiac evaluation remains unclear, but these results suggest that even at a cumulative dose of 90 to 150 mg/m2, studies to determine left ventricular function do not yield data sufficient to warrant a change in the clinical management of these patients.     

Chemotherapy related fatal neurotoxicity during induction in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Neurotoxicity is a common complication during cancer chemotherapy. It is estimated that 3–10% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) experience acute, transient neurotoxicity during induction chemotherapy. Fatal acute neurotoxicity is rarely encountered. Neurological evaluation of children with ALL at diagnosis and during treatment is of value in order to diagnose neurological complications early so that appropriate intervention can be adopted. This communication describes the profile of two children with unexpected, acute fatal neurologic toxicity during induction chemotherapy for ALL.     

Daunorubicin-induced cell kill with 1-hour versus 24-hour infusions: a randomized comparison in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND: Daunorubicin (DNR) is one of the most important drugs in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Prolonged infusions of anthracyclines are less cardiotoxic but it has not been investigated whether the in vivo leukemic cell kill is equivalent to short-term infusions. PROCEDURE: In the cooperative treatment study COALL-92 for childhood ALL 178 patients were randomized to receive in a therapeutic window a single dose of 36 mg/m (2) DNR either as a 1-h (85 patients) or 24-h infusion (93 patients). Daily measurements of white blood cell count (WBC) and peripheral blood smears for seven days could be evaluated centrally in 101 patients (1-h: 43 patients, 24-h: 58 patients). RESULTS: The proportional decline of blasts at day 7 after DNR infusion showed no statistically significant difference between the two treatment arms. At day 3 the median percentage of blasts was less than 10%, at day 7 less than 2% for either the 1-h or 24-h infusion. Twelve patients (1-h: 5 patients, 24-h: 7 patients) had an absolute number of more than 1000 blasts per mul peripheral blood (PB) at day 7 after DNR infusion (DNR poor responders). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed an equal probability of EFS for the short- and long-term infusion group (24-h: 83%+/-5; 1-h: 81+/-6) after a median observation time of 12.3 years. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in children with ALL a 24-h infusion of DNR has the same in vivo cytotoxicity for leukemic cells as a 1-h infusion. This offers the possibility to use prolonged infusions with hopefully less cardiotoxicity without loss of efficacy.     

160例急性淋巴细胞白血病MICM分型及其治疗和预后相关性的研究

目的 研究儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）的MICM分型及其与治疗、预后的相关性。方法 采用细胞形态学检查、染色体R带或C带核型分析、流式细胞仪细胞免疫表型检测和套式逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT－PCR）检测TEL－AML1、BCR－ABL融合基因转录本。结果 在160例儿童ALL中，76例为L1型，73例为L2型，5例为L3型，6例不能分类。在核型分析的151例中，75例（49．7％）有克隆性染色体异常。包括超二倍体16例，假二倍体12例，亚二倍体26例，染色体易位21例。后者包括t（4；11）7例，t（9；22）6例，其他少见易位8例。进行过免疫表型分析的128例中，64例（50％）为B系表达，38例（29．7％）为T系表达，14例（10．9％）为T、B混合表达，6例为B系、髓系混合表达，3例为T系、髓系混合表达，其他3例。套式RT－PCR检测到TEL－AML1融合基因转录本11例、BCR－ABL融合基因转录本2例。125例ALL患儿分别接受DOLP（柔红霉素、长春新碱、左旋门冬酰胺酶、泼尼松或左旋门冬酰胺酶、泼尼松或地塞米松）方案治疗，其中116例（92．85）获得完全缓解（CR）。CR达2年以上者16例，1年以上者28例，6个月以上者17例。结论 MICM分型由于能反映ALL的本质，因而比FAB分型更精确、完善，并且对于指导临床用药、提高ALL患儿缓解率和长期生存率有重要价值。     

儿童急性淋巴细胞性白血病诱导化疗修正方案的近期临床评估

目的比较上海交通大学医学院附属上海儿童医学中心1999年开始使用的儿童急性淋巴细胞性白血病（ALL）治疗方案（以下简称99方案）,和在99方案基础上减轻治疗强度并从2005年开始使用的修正方案（以下简称05方案）诱导治疗的疗效、安全性,以提高儿童ALL的疗效。方法纵向对比1999年1月1日至2006年3月1日初治的311例ALL患儿临床资料;以2005年5月1日为分界线分为99方案组和05方案组。99方案组243例,05方案组68例。对两组患儿起病时临床资料、治疗反应、缓解情况、治疗相关的感染情况等进行统计分析。结果两组病例起病时各项临床资料（性别、年龄、诊断时外周血白细胞计数）差异均无统计学意义（P均〉0．05）,两组的缓解率（91．8％弧95．6％,P=0．29）和缓解时微小残留病（MRD）监测结果（P=0．17）差异也无统计学意义,99方案组与05方案组达到缓解所需时间（34．18±4．96d vs．32．34±3．36d）、治疗相关的感染率（54．7％伽．23．5％）、重症感染的发生率（9．1％vs.0）和病死率（3．7％vs.0）差异均有统计学意义。结论05方案和99方案在儿童ALL的诱导缓解治疗上都能取得良好的疗效,而05方案在疗效确切的同时具有更高的安全性。     

Protein energey malnutrition and skeletal muscle wasting in childhood acute lymphoblastic lukemia

OBJECTIVE: To determine the nutritional status and the extent of skeletal muscle wasting in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis and after induction chemotherapy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital. METHODS: 25 new cases of ALL underwent somatometric measurements and ultrasonographic evaluation of skeletal muscle and subcutaneous fat at initial presentation and after completion of induction therapy. RESULTS: Malnutrition (weight for age < 80percnt) was evident in 13 cases (52percnt), but cumulative incidence of malnutrition (weight for age < 80percnt, weight for height < 90percnt, height for age < 95percnt, skin fold thickness < 5th centile, midarm muscle circumference < 5th centile) was 88percnt. Nine children lost weight during induction (range: 0.2 to 5.8 kg; means +/- SD: 1.9 plusmn 1.8 kg). All these cases had a complicated course during induction chemotherapy. Fourteen children (56percnt) had skeletal muscle wasting during induction chemotherapy. All those children who had lost weight also had skeletal muscle wasting. Subcutaneous fat, in contrast increased in 24 cases (96percnt). CONCLUSION: Malnutrition exists in a significant proportion of children with ALL. If induction chemotherapy is complicated, children lose significant weight and have significant muscle wasting. Increase in subcutaneous fat occurs in almost all children, which is probably a consequence of therapy with oral steroids     

Induction toxicity of a modified Memorial Sloan-Kettering-New York II protocol in children with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A single institution study

Although the chance of cure for children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is high, their outlook with subsequent relapse is poor. Bone marrow transplantation may be an option for some, but the need for intensive reinduction chemotherapy regimens remains the best hope for effecting cure in the majority of relapsed children. The authors report the experience of using an intensive chemotherapy protocol (Memorial Sloan-Kettering-New York II Protocol, MSK-NY-II) in a series of relapsed children with ALL. Thirty children presenting to the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, in their first relapse of ALL were treated according to a modification of the original MSK-NY-II protocol. Three children (10%) died during induction therapy, two from overwhelming Gram-negative sepsis, and one from intracerebral haemorrhage. Of 27 children completing induction, two children failed to enter remission; however, both had planned deviations from the protocol. Infectious complications were prominent with a total of 55 admissions for febrile neutropenic episodes. Eight children required the support of the intensive care unit for infectious complications. A total of 36 microbiological isolates were obtained from the patients during induction therapy. Ten bone marrow transplant procedures have been subsequently performed in these children, of whom five are alive and disease free at the time of writing. The MSK-NY-II protocol is an intensive regimen but with encouraging early remission rates in relapsed childhood ALL. Early sepsis in previously immunosuppressed children is an important cause of induction death. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Transient hyperglycemia in Hispanic children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND: Transient hyperglycemia occurs commonly during the treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of and risk factors for transient hyperglycemia during induction chemotherapy in Hispanic pediatric patients diagnosed with B-Precursor ALL. PROCEDURE: The study cohort consisted of 155 Hispanic pediatric patients diagnosed with ALL and treated at one of two South Texas pediatric oncology centers between 1993 and 2002. Hyperglycemia was defined as > or = 2 glucose determinations of > or = 200 mg/dl during the first 28 days of induction chemotherapy. RESULTS: Overall, 11.0% of the study cohort developed transient hyperglycemia during induction chemotherapy. Age and body mass index (BMI) were both positively associated with the risk of hyperglycemia. Females exhibited a substantially higher risk of hyperglycemia than males, but this association did not reach statistical significance after adjusting for other covariates. Among patients who developed hyperglycemia, 100% of those who required insulin were in the 13-18-year age group and reported a family history of diabetes. Hyperglycemic patients classified as obese (BMI > or = 95 centile) were more than twice as likely to have required insulin therapy compared to overweight patients (BMI 85-<95 centile) and three times as likely to have required insulin compared to normal weight (BMI < 85 centile) patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of chemotherapy-induced transient hyperglycemia in the present study cohort is comparable to that reported in previous pediatric ALL patients. This finding is interesting in view of the elevated prevalence of obesity and the underlying dietary behaviors in this Hispanic study cohort.     

伴有t(12;21)易位的儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病的临床和实验研究

目的　研究我国儿童急性淋巴细胞白血病 (ALL)中伴有t(12 ;2 1)易位者的发生率及其临床、免疫学和预后的特征。方法　采用套式逆转录聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)技术检测TEL AML1融合基因转录本 ,联合染色体R带核型分析和流式细胞仪免疫表型分析等方法。结果　在 5 5例儿童ALL(B系ALL 40例 ,T系ALL 13例 ,T、B系双表达ALL 2例 )中共发现 8例 (2 0 % )B系ALL有TEL AML1融合基因转录本 ,证实有t(12 ;2 1)易位存在。治疗后 8例均获完全缓解 (CR) ,随访至 1999年 5月 ,均在CR中 ,无一例复发。结论　t(12 ;2 1)B系ALL是儿童ALL中最多见且预后较好的一种亚型。RT PCR检测TEL AML1融合基因转录本是诊断t(12 ;2 1)ALL和监测其微小残留病最敏感有效的方法。     

Late cardiac effects of anthracycline containing therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND: At present about 80% of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will be cured following treatment with multi-drug chemotherapy. A major concern for this growing number of survivors is the risk of late effects of treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether signs of cardiomyopathy were present in patients treated in childhood with cumulative anthracycline doses of less than 300 mg/m(2). PROCEDURE: Evaluation of cardiac function in a cohort of 63 long-term survivors in first continuous remission following treatment of ALL with multi-drug chemotherapy including anthracyclines was performed using standard M-mode echocardiography and tissue doppler imaging (TDI). Associations between age at diagnosis, cumulative dose of anthracycline, sex, length of follow-up, and deviations from normal values in M-mode echocardiograms were evaluated using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. TDI data were compared to normal values using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. RESULTS: By standard M-mode echocardiography the most significant findings were diastolic dilation of the left ventricle, thinner interventricular septum (IVS), decreased left ventricular mass (LVM) in females, follow-up dependent dilation of the left ventricle in systole and follow-up dependent decrease in ejection fraction (EF). TDI abnormalities included signs of early diastolic dysfunction and myocardial hypertrophy, and were also found in structures that appeared normal by M-mode echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the growing evidence that even low to moderate doses of anthracyclines might lead to progressive cardiac dysfunction. It is important that children treated with anthracyclines receive life long follow-up for signs of cardiomyopathy.     

黄芪注射液对急性淋巴细胞白血病患儿感染因素的影响

目的 探讨黄芪注射液对急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）患儿诱导缓解化疗期间感染相关因素的影响。方法 采用随机双盲法将91 例ALL 患儿分为治疗组（47 例）和对照组（44 例）,治疗组在诱导缓解化疗的同时给予加用黄芪注射液0.5 mL /kg·d,共35 d,治疗组给予同等剂量生理盐水代替,两组其他支持治疗相同,比较两组诱导缓解化疗结束后患儿感染的发生率、感染持续时间、白细胞及中性粒细胞水平、感染部位及分泌物病原菌培养阳性率等。结果 治疗组47 例患儿中有4 例出现过敏反应后退出实验,研究显示诱导缓解化疗后治疗组患儿的感染发生率低于对照组（P<0.05）;不同感染部位的感染持续时间均低于对照组（均P<0.05）;治疗组化疗后中性粒细胞水平高于对照组（P<0.05）;治疗组呼吸道感染、泌尿道感染、血液感染及皮肤软组织感染发生率均低于对照组（均P<0.05）;感染病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,感染患儿中治疗组分泌物培养阳性率低于对照组（P<0.05）。结论 黄芪注射液可能在诱导缓解化疗期间减轻了化疗药物对骨髓的抑制,也可能通过提高中性粒细胞水平,从而使ALL 患儿在诱导缓解化疗期间感染发生率降低,感染发生时持续时间缩短。     

Treatment of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children using the AL851 and ALHR88 protocols: A report from the Kyushu-Yamaguchi children cancer study group in Japan

A total of 125 children, who were diagnosed as having high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), were treated with two consecutive protocols designated as AL851 (1985–1988) and ALHR88 (1988–1990). All patients received induction therapy consisting of vincristine (VCR), prednisolone (PSL), daunorubicin (DNR), and l-asparaginase (l-Asp). In the ALHR88 protocol, the patients whose blasts in the bone marrow (BM) were ≥25% on day 14 of induction therapy and who were classified into T-cell type received additional cytosine arabinoside (AraC). After consolidation with intermediate-dose methotrexate (MTX), reinduction therapy including VCR, dexamethasone, and adriamycin followed by high-dose AraC was done for all patients. Intrathecal MTX and 24Gy of cranial irradiation were used to prevent central nervous system leukemia. A maintenance therapy consisting of 6-mercaptopurine, cyclophosphamide, MTX, DNR, VCR, and AraC was administered for 3 years after achieving a complete remission (CR). CR was achieved in 51/55 (92.7%) for AL851 and 68/70 (97.1%) for ALHR88. The 5-year event-free survival rates were 49.1 ± 6.7% in AL851 and 62.5 ± 6.1% in ALHR88. The factors related to a poor prognosis were a high initial leukocyte count of greater than 50 × 10⁹/L (P < 0.001), an L2 morphology of leukemic cells by FAB classification (P = 0.009), the chromosomal abnormality (P = 0.004) and high residual leukemic cells in BM (≥25%) on day 14 of induction therapy (P < 0.001). Taking these factors into consideration, more intensive protocols were started in 1990 for the patients with high-risk ALL. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Management of an anaphylactoid reaction to methotrexate with a stepwise graded challenge

We report the management of a 15-year-old boy with an anaphylactic or anaphylactoid response to his first dose of methotrexate during induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Because weekly methotrexate therapy is an important component of continuation chemotherapy for pediatric ALL, a stepwise graded challenge was employed to achieve drug tolerance.