Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 1977-7
Prevention of Meningeal CNS Involvement as a Factor Influencing the Duration of Complete Remission and Survival in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
The influence on the duration of CR and survival of 2 modalities (MTX + hydrocortisone IT, with and without TCT) for the prevention of meningeal CNS involvement was assessed in 24 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Of the 9 subjects who received MTX and hydrocortisone only, 42 % were still in CR 33 months after its attainment, as opposed to 75 % of the 15 who also received TCT. Survival at 33 months after diagnosis was 89 % and 82 % in the 2 groups. The results are compared with those obtained in an earlier series of 14 children who received no prophylactic treatment. Here CR at 45 months was 25 % and survival 46 %. Eight subjects died, as opposed to 3 (1 in CR) in the present series.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
HaghbinM., TanT. C., ClarksonB. D., MikeV., MurphyM. L.: Intensive chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer, 33: 1491–1498, 1974.
2.
HollandJ. F., GlidwellO.: Chemotherapy of acute lymphocytic leukemia of childhood. Cancer, 30: 1480–1487, 1972.
3.
HustuH. O., AurR. J. A., VerzosaM. S., SimoneJ. V., PinkelD.: Prevention of central nervous system leukemia by irradiation. Cancer, 32: 585–597, 1973.
4.
JacquillatC. L., WeilM., GemonM. F., BoironM., BernardJ.: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. In: Therapy of Acute Leukemias. pp. 114–126. MandelliF., AmadoriS., MarianiG. (eds.), Edizioni Minerva Medica, Torino1975.
5.
MathéG., RappaportH.: Histological typing of the neoplastic diseases of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues.World Health Organization, Geneve, 1975.
6.
Medical Research Council:Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: Effect of prophylactic radiotherapy against central nervous system leukaemia. Brit. Med. J., 2: 381–384, 1973.
7.
RubisteinL. J., HermanM. H., LongT. F., WilburJ. R.: Disseminated necrotizing leukoencephalopathy: A complication of treated central nervous system leukemia and lymphoma. Cancer, 35: 291–305, 1975.
8.
SimoneJ. V., AurR. J. A., HustuH. O., VerzosaM. S., PinkelD.: Combined modality therapy of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer, 35: 25–35, 1975.
9.
SimoneJ. V., VerzosaM. S., RudyJ. A.: Initial features and prognosis in 363 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Cancer, 36: 2099–2108, 1975.
10.
SullivanM. P., SutowW. W., TaylorH. G., WilburJ. R.: Intrathecal combination chemotherapy using Methotrexate, ARA-C, hydrocortisone. Proc. Am. Ass. Cancer Res., 12(Abstract 12), 1971.
