Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia with cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, and prednisone
Gingrich, R.D.; Armitage, J.O.; Burns, C.P.
Cancer Treatment Reports 62(9): 1389-1391
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-5960 PMID: 356988 Document Number: 124282
Thirteen adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were entered into a protocol in which cytosine arabinoside infusion was added to vincristine and prednisone as remission induction and periodic intensification therapy. Central nervous system prophylaxis consisting of cranial irradiation and intrathecal methotrexate was given, and all patients received continuous oral 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate as maintenance treatment. Myelotoxicity was severe during induction, with prolonged granulocyte and platelet count nadirs noted. Nine of 13 patients (69%) obtained a complete remission and one (8%) obtained a partial remission. The median duration of complete remission was 38.1 weeks. It was concluded that cytosine arabinoside in combination with vincristine and prednisone is an effective but toxic antileukemic regimen which did not produce a major improvement in remission duration.