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Recurrent childhood lymphocytic leukemia following cessation of therapy. Treatment and response
Author(s) -
Rivera Gaston,
Pratt Charles B.,
Aur Rhomes J. A.,
Verzosa Manuel,
Hustu H. Omar
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197604)37:4<1679::aid-cncr2820370411>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , leukemia , bone marrow , bone marrow suppression , acute lymphocytic leukemia , population , pediatrics , surgery , lymphoblastic leukemia , environmental health
A unique population of patients—children who developed recurrent acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) following cessation of initial prolonged therapy—was studied. During a 2‐year period, 17 such children were admitted to a planned combination chemotherapy program. Complete bone‐marrow remissions were achieved in 16 patients, and the median duration of second hematologic remissions was 216 days. These responses were significantly better than those obtained in seven patients who relapsed during the administration of continuation chemotherapy. Although the rate and duration of induced remissions were notably high, 9 of the 17 patients who relapsed off therapy have again developed recurrent leukemia. This result, together with the moderate toxicity encountered during treatment, indicates that more therapy is needed. The equal proportion of bone marrow and meningeal relapses was interpreted to mean that a second course of preventive central nervous system therapy early in remission may be especially useful.