Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. 1990

P Jacobs, and L Wood, and N Novitzky
University of Cape Town Leukaemia Centre, South Africa.

Eighty-five consecutive patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), having a median age of 24 years (range 10-69 years), underwent induction and consolidation chemotherapy with weekly parenteral vincristine, Adriamycin, l-asparaginase and daily oral prednisone (VAAP), followed by standard (CNS) prophylaxis. Maintenance therapy was given for 3 years and consisted of daily 6-mercaptopurine, weekly methotrexate and monthly intrathecal therapy, with drug intensification comprising either vincristine, Adriamycin and l-asparaginase (VAA) or cyclophosphamide, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside and prednisone (COAP). Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 59 patients (69%) and only the French-American-British (FAB) L1 morphology was a significant predictive factor (P = 0.048). Twenty-three patients failed to achieve CR and of these 12 had primary drug resistance. Median follow-up is currently 260 weeks, median predicted survival of all patients is 58 weeks and for those who achieved CR it is 104 weeks. Median duration of CR is 70 weeks. Of the prognostic factors for survival, only FAB L1 subtype was significant. Bone marrow relapses occurred in 29 patients, and of these 9 (31%) achieved CR. There has been CNS relapse in two patients and both have died. Eleven patients continue in CR off therapy, with a median of 152 weeks. This regimen is effective, with acceptable toxicity, and a number of patients are potentially cured. The incidence of resistant and relapsing disease is an argument for further intensifying both induction and postinduction therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011241 Prednisone A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from CORTISONE. It is biologically inert and converted to PREDNISOLONE in the liver. Dehydrocortisone,delta-Cortisone,Apo-Prednisone,Cortan,Cortancyl,Cutason,Dacortin,Decortin,Decortisyl,Deltasone,Encorton,Encortone,Enkortolon,Kortancyl,Liquid Pred,Meticorten,Orasone,Panafcort,Panasol,Predni Tablinen,Prednidib,Predniment,Prednison Acsis,Prednison Galen,Prednison Hexal,Pronisone,Rectodelt,Sone,Sterapred,Ultracorten,Winpred,Acsis, Prednison
D012074 Remission Induction Therapeutic act or process that initiates a response to a complete or partial remission level. Induction of Remission,Induction, Remission,Inductions, Remission,Remission Inductions
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D003131 Combined Modality Therapy The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used. Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D003520 Cyclophosphamide Precursor of an alkylating nitrogen mustard antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent that must be activated in the LIVER to form the active aldophosphamide. It has been used in the treatment of LYMPHOMA and LEUKEMIA. Its side effect, ALOPECIA, has been used for defleecing sheep. Cyclophosphamide may also cause sterility, birth defects, mutations, and cancer. (+,-)-2-(bis(2-Chloroethyl)amino)tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-Oxide Monohydrate,B-518,Cyclophosphamide Anhydrous,Cyclophosphamide Monohydrate,Cyclophosphamide, (R)-Isomer,Cyclophosphamide, (S)-Isomer,Cyclophosphane,Cytophosphan,Cytophosphane,Cytoxan,Endoxan,NSC-26271,Neosar,Procytox,Sendoxan,B 518,B518,NSC 26271,NSC26271
D003561 Cytarabine A pyrimidine nucleoside analog that is used mainly in the treatment of leukemia, especially acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytarabine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent that inhibits the synthesis of DNA. Its actions are specific for the S phase of the cell cycle. It also has antiviral and immunosuppressant properties. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p472) Ara-C,Arabinofuranosylcytosine,Arabinosylcytosine,Cytosine Arabinoside,Aracytidine,Aracytine,Cytarabine Hydrochloride,Cytonal,Cytosar,Cytosar-U,beta-Ara C,Ara C,Arabinoside, Cytosine,Cytosar U,beta Ara C
D004317 Doxorubicin Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetius. It is a hydroxy derivative of DAUNORUBICIN. Adriamycin,Adriablastin,Adriablastine,Adriblastin,Adriblastina,Adriblastine,Adrimedac,DOXO-cell,Doxolem,Doxorubicin Hexal,Doxorubicin Hydrochloride,Doxorubicin NC,Doxorubicina Ferrer Farm,Doxorubicina Funk,Doxorubicina Tedec,Doxorubicine Baxter,Doxotec,Farmiblastina,Myocet,Onkodox,Ribodoxo,Rubex,Urokit Doxo-cell,DOXO cell,Hydrochloride, Doxorubicin,Urokit Doxo cell
D004338 Drug Combinations Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D004341 Drug Evaluation Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals. Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation

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