Ph阳性急性淋巴细胞白血病的临床研究

目的研究Ph染色体阳性(Ph+)急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)的生物学特点与临床治疗转归。方法30例成人ALL经MIC检查确诊为Ph+B细胞ALL。经环磷酰胺、长春新碱、柔红霉素、泼尼松加或不加左旋门冬酰胺酶(CODP±L)方案诱导化疗,化疗不缓解者给予伊马替尼治疗,400～600mg/d,持续服用至完全缓解(CR)。14例缓解后行异基因造血干细胞移植(alloHSCT),16例进行巩固强化治疗。结果30例Ph+ALL患者占同期92例ALL患者的32.6%。中位年龄25.5(14～60)岁。单纯t(9;22)16例,有附加染色体异常14例;P190蛋白阳性率为68.4%;P210蛋白阳性率为31.6%;细胞免疫学标记均为B细胞表达,其中CD34细胞阳性率76.7%,髓系表达(CD13或CD33)阳性率43.3%。30例患者中WBC>30×109/L22例,其中9例WBC>100×109/L。经常规化疗,单纯Ph+ALL缓解率为68.8%,伴附加染色体异常者为28.6%(P>0.05);7例未缓解患者应用伊马替尼治疗均达CR,Ph+ALL总缓解率为73.3%。单纯Ph+ALL与伴附加染色体异常者的中位缓解期分别为9及4个月(P<0.05);中位生存期分别为9个月及7个月(P>0.05)。移植患者与持续化疗者中位缓解期分别为8个月及4.5个月(P<0.05);中位生存期为12.5及6个月(P<0.05)。结论有附加染色体异常对Ph+ALL患者的预后和疗效有一定的负性影响,伊马替尼对Ph+ALL诱导治     

异基因造血干细胞移植治疗急性白血病28例临床分析

目的评价异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)治疗急性白血病的疗效。方法收集2005年1月～2011年8月本院行allo-HSCT的急性白血病28例,其中,急性淋巴细胞白血病7例,急性髓系白血病21例。26例为同胞全相合,2例同胞5/6相合。预处理方案22例为马利兰/环磷酰胺,3例为改良马利兰/环磷酰胺,3例为马利兰/环磷酰胺/氟达拉滨。常规采用环孢素联合短程甲氨喋呤预防移植物抗宿主病。结果所有患者移植后造血功能均快速重建。中位随访时间22个月,至随访结束,总生存率71.4%,其中,16例患者(57.1%)已无病生存11～79个月。未出现急性移植物抗宿主病,6例发生慢性移植物抗宿主病(cGVHD),8例于移植后死于cGVHD、感染或疾病复发。移植前首次化疗即达完全缓解者(即CR1)移植后总生存率及无病生存率均比CR2或NR患者同期增高。结论异基因造血干细胞移植是急性白血病安全有效的治疗方法,CR1后应尽早选择异基因造血干细胞移植。     

Postremission therapy without prednisolone improves survival in adults with acute leukemia.

This prospective randomized clinical trial was to clarify whether postremission therapy without prednisolone (PSL) was more effective than therapy with PSL in improving the 5-year survival of adults with acute leukemia. Thirty consecutive adult patients with newly achieved complete remission were randomized to receive postremission therapy either with or without PSL between September 1985 and September 1988. The patients ranged from 16 to 57 years in age. Patients treated without PSL had a significantly better 5-year survival rate than those receiving PSL according to Kaplan-Meier analysis (53.5% vs 15.3%, p < 0.05). In the group treated without PSL, eight out of 15 patients were alive at 72 months, and seven patients maintained their first complete remission at 72 months. Among patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were treated without PSL the median duration of remission was 24 months, and the survival rate at 72 months was 50.0%. On the other hand, the median survival was only 13 months for the 5 patients with ALL treated with PSL. Thus, it is desirable that adults with acute leukemia are treated by postremission therapy without PSL.     

急性淋巴细胞白血病预后及其相关因素分析

为了解急性淋巴细胞白血病的预后及其相关因素,对1996-2005年我院收治的53例初治急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)患者疗效和预后进行分析,了解其缓解率、复发率、总生存率和无事件生存率,并采用同期病例对照法,探讨不同因素和预后的关系。结果表明:ALL总缓解率为67.9%;总复发率为37.7%,中位复发时间为缓解后6个月;18个月总生存率(OS)为35.1%,中位生存时间为4个月;18个月无事件生存率(EFS)为14.2%,中位无事件生存时间为1个月。不同性别患者EFS之间有显著性差异;年龄是缓解率的独立相关因素。初诊时白细胞总数和血红蛋白水平与OS和EFS显著相关,初诊时白细胞总数越高,死亡和复发风险越高;血红蛋白水平越高,死亡和复发风险越低。诱导后中性粒细胞绝对值(ANC)为OS的独立相关因素,诱导后ANC越高,死亡风险越低。化疗后感染为复发独立相关因素,化疗后出血可影响OS,而诱导化疗中空腹血糖偏高者相对OS低。结论:急性淋巴细胞白血病的复发率高,成人相对于儿童预后不良,应依据疾病危险分组进行个体化治疗,防治感染和出血,以减少复发,延长无病生存时间。     

成人急性淋巴细胞白血病缓解后化疗和自体造血干细胞移植疗效的比较

目的比较联合化疗和自体造血干细胞移植（ASCT）在成人急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）缓解后治疗的疗效．方法对我院移植中心1990年7月至2003年12月首次诱导缓解、早期连续强化巩固治疗4个疗程后接受ASCT或联合化疗的74例成人ALL患者的疗效进行回顾性分析。联合化疗患者40例，ASCT患者34例，中位随访时间20．5个月，比较两组患者累积无白血病生存（LFS）率、总生存（OS）率及累积复发率：结果①化疗组患者中位LFS和OS期分别是14．0和20．6个月，而ASCT组中位LFS和OS期均大于53．5个月；②化疗组患者28例（70％）复发，而ASCT组患者移植后11例（32．35％）复发；③ASCT组患者1年LFS、OS率及复发率与化疗组患者相比差异无统计学意义（P值均〉0．05），而3年及5年预期LFS和OS率明显高于化疗组（P值均〈0．05），ASCT组患者的3年及5年复发率显著低于化疗组（P〈0．05）；④ASCT前移植物体外净化和移植后维持治疗（处理组）患者3年以上LFS和OS率高于未处理组患者（P〈0．05），累积复发率低于未处理组患者（P〈0．05）。结论ASCT可以有效降低成人ALL患者在早期连续强化巩固治疗后的远期复发率；ASCT前体外净化和移植后维持治疗可降低复发率，提高长期生存率。     

Acute leukemia in adults: cost effectiveness of treatment

Costs of treating 174 adult patients with acute leukemia were compiled and analyzed over the five-year period 1974 to 1979. The average overall cost per patient was $18,760, and increased over the period of study. Increased total hospital costs were incurred by patients who achieved a favorable response to induction chemotherapy and by those with a diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). To assess the impact of successful treatment on hospital expenditures, total months of survival were compared with total hospital costs to determine cost per month of life. Using this analysis, improved survival, favorable response to chemotherapy, and a diagnosis of ALL were associated with significant decreases in cost per month of life. The long-term survivors (alive greater than or equal to 2 years from diagnosis) best demonstrated this effect, with a mean hospital cost per month of survival from diagnosis of $563, which was significantly less than $6,937 for those who achieved a partial remission, $10,703 for those with treatment failure, and $8,240 for those who were untreated. These costs linked to outcome are comparable to those reported in other disorders that require prolonged and intensive hospital care. With the progressive improvement in response rate and in percentage of long-term survivors that is being observed in adults with acute leukemia, these costs should continue to decrease.     

短程大剂量米托蒽醌和阿糖胞苷治疗难治性和复发的急性白血病

初诊的急性白血病,化疗常可获得较高的缓解率,而难治性和复发的白血病治疗效果较差。本研究观察了大剂量米托蒽醌和中剂量阿糖胞苷治疗30例难治性或复发的白血病的效果。米托蒽醌静脉注射总剂量为40mg/m^2,阿糖胞苷剂量为每天1-1.5g/m^2,注射时间为3小时连续5天。26例病人获得完全缓解（缓解率为87%）,1例（3.3%）部分缓解,治疗过程中无病例死亡。平均获得完全缓解所需的时间为30天左右。平均无病生存和存活时间分别为3.5和6个月。主要副作用为造血系统受抑。结果显示短程大剂量米托蒽醌联合阿糖胞苷治疗难治性或复发的折血病可获得较高的缓解率,值得推广应用。     

Ph染色体阳性成人急性淋巴细胞白血病患者预后相关因素分析

目的　分析影响Ph 成人急性淋巴细胞白血病 (aALL)患者生存的各种相关因素。方法　综合分析 31例Ph aALL相关临床参数 ,观察生存期 ,并进行统计学分析。结果　Ph aALL占所有统计aALL的 15 .3%。临床上表现为年龄偏高 ,白细胞计数、幼稚细胞数高 ,血小板计数较低。免疫分型诊断以Common型为主 (82 .6 % ,2 3例中有 19例 ) ,39.1% (2 3例中有 7例 )协同表达髓系抗原 ,CD34 患者占 5 6 .5 % (2 3例中有 13例 )。缓解率 6 5 .4 % ,中位缓解期 4个月 ,中位生存期 8个月。Ph伴附加染色体异常占Ph阳性总数的 4 2 % ,常见的附加染色体异常包括 - 7, Ph ,del(9) (p11 12 ) ,add/t(16 ) (p13)等。Ph伴附加染色体异常组血小板计数显著低于单纯Ph 组 (P =0 .0 12 )和变异Ph易位组 (P =0 .0 0 1)。免疫分型研究显示CD34 患者组缓解期及生存期显著短于阴性组 (缓解期分别为 0和 9个月 ,P =0 .0 2 4 ;生存期分别为 6个月和 12个月 ,P =0 .0 34) ,但髓系抗原协同表达与否不影响生存期。结论　Ph aALL是一组预后不良的患者群 ,Ph合并附加染色体异常与否和临床异质性无显著相关 ,CD34表达在Ph aALL中是一个不良的预后因素。     

急性髓系白血病完全缓解后治疗周期的初步探讨

目的 探讨急性髓系白血病（AML）诱导缓解后的适宜治疗周期。方法 治疗并随访观察我院7年收治的原发、补治AML191例,采用SPSS软件分析所得数据。结果 191例原发初治AML采用HA、DA、AA、HAD方案分组诱导化疗,完全缓解（CR）率81．4％,其1－2个疗程CR率89．9％。144例可分析生存期的CR患者中位无病生存（DFS）9．6个月,3年实际DFS率为21．6％,5年DFS预计为12．9％,CR后巩固强化治疗＜6个疗程者中位DFS为7．1个月,3年DFS率为11．4％,5年DFS率为6．3％,治疗≥6个疗程者中位DFS为35．3个月,3年DFS率为43．2％,5年DFS率为27．0％,二者差异具有显著性。其中治疗≥8个疗程者中位DFS为48．8个月,3年DFS率为57．9％,5年DFS率为31．6％,略高于治疗≥6个疗程的全部病例,但差异无统计学意义。结论 AML CR后标准剂量化疗巩固强化至少应6个疗程,以8个疗程以上为宜。建议AML的治疗至少维持1年左右。     

成人急性淋巴细胞白血病的化疗及预后因素分析

目的 分析成人急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)的临床特点,比较不同化疗方案组患者的疗效,探讨影响长期生存的因素.方法 回顾性分析1998年6月至2005年12月住院治疗的成人ALL患者149例.采用SPSS11.5统计软件分析有关数据.结果 ①133例患者进行了免疫表型分析,其中B细胞表型118例(88.7%),T细胞表型15例(11.3%).有染色体核型结果的患者105例,正常核型40例(38.1%),异常核型65例(61.9%).②按诱导治疗方案不同将治疗满4周的患者分为VDCP、VDLP、VDCLP三组,诱导治疗总完全缓解(CR)率为93.7%.三组患者诱导治疗1个疗程结束时CR率分别为80.8%、92.3%、81.4%,差异无统计学意义(P=0.618).包含和不包含门冬酰胺酶的诱导方案诱导治疗结束时CR率分别为95.5%和92.1%,差异无统计学意义(P=0.566).患者中位无病生存(DFS)期为12(1～74)个月,中位总生存(OS)期为17.5(1～97)个月.三组患者3年及5年DFS率分别为18.5%和14.8%、24.7%和9.9%、39.5%和39.5%,组间差异有统计学意义(P=0.0066).③通过COX回归模型分析显示患者就诊时年龄＞40岁、WBC＞40×109/L、染色体t(9;22)及巩固治疗不足4个疗程为预后不良因素.结论 成人ALL免疫表型检测以B-ALL为主,染色体核型变化较大.多数患者在接受4或5种药物联合的诱导方案治疗后可获CR;用门冬酰胺酶不影响诱导治疗CR率,但可提高患者的DFS和OS率.染色体核型异常影响患者生存情况.充分的巩固强化治疗对延长生存期必不可少.就诊时的年龄、白细胞计数、染色体核型检查结果及巩固治疗疗程数为影响生存的预后因素.     

Superhigh doses of dexamethasone in treatment of refractory forms of acute lymphoblast leukemia of adults

AIM: Assessment of high-dose dexamethasone efficacy in combination with standard drugs (adriablastin, vincristin, alpha-asparaginase) in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pilot multicenter trial with participation of hematological departments of Hematological Research Center (Moscow), municipal hospital N 1 (Krasnoyarsk), municipal hospital N 8 (Yaroslavl), Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (Kirov) included 34 patients (10 patients with late recurrences, 24--with primary resistant forms, early and secondary recurrences). RESULTS: In patients with late ALL recurrences a complete remission (CR) was achieved in 70% cases, the median being 10 months. In patients with primary resistant ALL, early and secondary recurrences CR reached 37.5%, the median was 14 months. CONCLUSION: The program HiDexa is highly effective: overall complete remission rate reached 47%, median of complete remission duration was 10 months. Dexamethasone in high doses must be used only intravenously.     

环磷酰胺、阿糖胞苷和拓扑替康联合方案治疗难治和复发急性髓系白血病的临床研究

迄今对于难治或复发急性髓系白血病（AML）尚未取得共识的有效治疗方案。本研究评价环磷酰胺、阿糖胞苷和拓扑替康联合组成的CAT方案治疗37例难治、复发AML患者的疗效和安全性,其具体化疗方案为：环磷酰胺300mg／m^2,静脉滴注,每12小时1次,第1至第3天;拓扑替康,1．25mg／（m^2·d）,静脉滴注,第2至第6天,阿糖胞苷,500mg／（m^2·d）,静脉滴注,第2至第6天。结果表明：37例患者均完成1疗程化疗,完全缓解（CR）12例（32．4％）,部分缓解（PR）2例（5．4％）,总有效率达37．8％,其余23例未缓解（NR）（62．2％）。在18例复发病例中,CR6例（33．3％）,PR2例（11．1％）,NR10例（55．6％）。19例原发难治性AML患者中,6例获CR（31．6％）,NR13例（68．4％）。复发组和原发难治组患者的治疗有效率分别为44．4％、31．6％,其差别无统计学意义（P=0．42）。大部分患者经历了Ⅲ-Ⅳ度血液学毒性,最常见的严重非血液学毒性（Ⅲ-Ⅳ度）是感染和口腔黏膜炎,发生率分别达到86．5％和37．8％。观察期（停化疗28天）内死亡1例。中位随访时间为4（0—33）月,总体中位生存时间4（1．8—6．2）月,有效患者和无效患者的中位生存期分别为9（5．7-12．3）月、2（0—5．0）月（P=0．00）。结论：CAT方案治疗难治、复发AML疗效确切,患者耐受性良好,值得进一步扩大临床试验。     

红白血病——骨髓增生异常综合征的一种亚型?

为了研究红白血病是否为急性髓细胞白血病一个独立亚型,从临床实验及病程进展方面对21例红白血病患者进行了分析。结果显示,诊断时患者合并白细胞减少、贫血和血小板减少者分别为42.9%、81%、81%。外周血分类显示85.7%患者有幼稚粒细胞和幼稚单核细胞,52.4%患者有幼稚红细胞和有核红细胞;骨髓涂片显示骨髓增生活跃或明显活跃;红系细胞占58.3±8.0%,原始粒细胞占NEC58.0±18.4%;66.7%患者有病态造血,与典型AML不同。在病程中52.4%患者发生疾病转型,转为RAEB/RAEB-T和AML-M2,19例在确诊M6后接受化疗,11例有效(57.9%),其中CR10例、PR1例,CR中位维持6个月、PR2个月,但CR患者绝大多数伴有骨髓病态造血,外周血细胞减少。中数生存期在初诊M6和MDS转化为M6组分别为13.0±13.3和2.3±1.3月。结论:临床诊断急性红白血病与典型AML有许多差异,可能大部分是以红系过度增生为表现的MDSRAEB和RAEB-T型。     

84例成人Evans综合征临床资料分析

目的 探讨成人Evans综合征的初始临床特征,各种治疗方法 的疗效及病程.方法 对84例成人Evans综合征患者(男20例,女64例)应用激素、丙种免疫球蛋白、免疫抑制剂多药联合治疗,中位随访17.5(0.03～140)个月,观察患者起病特征及临床疗效.结果 所有患者均接受激素加或不加静脉丙种免疫球蛋白初始治疗.47例患者单用激素治疗,其中38例达完全缓解(CR)和部分缓解(PR).中位随访12个月,92.1%的患者复发.28例对激素耐药或出现严重出血的患者随后给予免疫抑制剂治疗,89.3%的患者获得CR或PR.中位随访8个月,84%患者复发.结论 Evans 综合征难治且易复发,联合治疗可能是治疗Evans综合征的有效手段.     

BU-CTX2预处理方案异基因造血干细胞移植治疗白血病60例

目的：评价BU－CTX2预处理方案异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT)治疗60例白血病的长期疗效。方法：1994年4月至2000年8月60例白血病患者接受了allo-HSCT，其中急性髓系白血病（AML）20例，急性淋巴细胞白血病（ALL）15例，慢性髓系白血病（CML）25例。53名供者系HLA完全相合同胞，4名为HLA 1个主要位点不合同胞，3名为HLA完全相合无关供者。用BU－CTX2方案预处理，用环孢菌素A＋甲氨蝶呤(54例）或甲泼尼龙（6例）预防移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）。结果：60例均植活。22例（36．7％）发生急性GVHD，其中CML组为48．0％，AML组30．0％，ALL组则为26．7％。中位随访时间24（9－24）个月，38例仍无白血病生存，22例（36．7％）死亡，其中1例死于肺部感染，3例死于急性GVHD，7例死于巨细胞病毒感染，11例死于白血病复发，其中AML3例（15．0％），ALL8例（53．3％）。8例ALL均于移植早期复发死亡。4例ALL长期生存者均发生慢性GVHD。3年无病生存（DFS）率为63．3％），其中CML组为80．0％，AML组70．0％，ALL组则为26．7％。结论：BU－CTX2为AML和CML的有效预处理方案，白血病复发率低，长期生存率高，而作为ALL的预处理方案则白血病复发率较高，提示BU－CTX2不适合作为ALL首选预处理方案。     

21例Ph阳性急性淋巴细胞白血病儿童不同治疗疗效分析

目的:分析Ph+急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)患儿TKI联合化疗和异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)的疗效.方法:回顾性分析2008年1月至2015年4月在中国医学科学院血液病医院儿童血液病中心就诊应用CCLG-2008-ALL方案治疗的21例年龄＜12岁Ph+ALL患儿,将患者分为2组:化疗联合TKI治疗组和a...     

Ph染色体阳性的成人急性淋巴细胞白血病临床分析

目的 探讨Ph染色体阳性成人急性淋巴细胞白血病(Ph+ aALL)的临床特点,预后相关因素及治疗转归.方法 回顾性分析1995年1月至2009年12月收治的117例初治Ph+ aALL患者的临床资料,并随访生存期.结果 117例Ph+ aALL占同期727例初治成人ALL患者的16.1％.免疫表型大多数为前B型(64.1％)和普通型(31.3％);37.5％的患者伴有髓系抗原表达,98.4％的患者CD34表达阳性.总的完全缓解(CR)率为62％,中位缓解期6个月,中位生存期9个月.核型分析单纯t(9;22)异常占53％,t(9;22)附加其他染色体异常占47％,两组的CR率分别为59.6％和62.5％(P=0.768),中位生存期分别为7和4个月(P=0.158),3年总生存率为27.3％和14.4％(P=0.271).共同表达髓系抗原组与不表达髓系抗原组的CR率分别为56.0％和61.5％(P=0.750),中位生存期分别为5个月和4个月(P =0.182),3年总生存率分别为16.0％和15.0％(P=0.354).加用伊马替尼治疗和常规化疗组的CR率分别为81.3％和58.3％ (P =0.083),中位生存期分别为9.5和6个月(P=0.003),3年总生存率分别为52.2％和10.3％ (P =0.029).缓解后接受移植组和缓解后接受常规化疗巩固治疗组的中位生存期分别为15和6个月(P =0.000),3年总生存率分别为62.0％和10.3％(P=0.000).缓解后接受伊马替尼巩固维持治疗组和缓解后接受异基因造血干细胞移植组的中位生存期分别为12和15个月(P =0.300),3年总生存率分别为64.7％和62.0％(P=0.505).结论 Ph+ aALL约占aALL的16.1％,是一组预后不良的群体,常规化疗的CR率低,缓解期和生存期短;附加染色体异常和共同表达髓系抗原对CR率和预后无显著影响.在诱导治疗中加用伊马替尼能够显著提高Ph+ aALL患者的CR率.缓解后接受伊马替尼巩固维持治疗和接受异基因造血干细胞移植均可显著改善Ph+ aALL患者的长期生存率.     

IDA-FLAG regimen for the therapy of primary refractory and relapse acute leukemia: a single-center experience

We evaluated efficacy and toxicity profiles of fludarabine, Ara-C, idarubicin, and G-CSF (Ida-FLAG) combination chemotherapy in 56 refractory and/or relapsed acute leukemia patients. Patients were treated with fludarabine phosphate 25 mg/m2/d (d1-5), Ara-C 2 g/m2/d (d1-5), idarubicin 12 mg/m2/d (d1-3), G-CSF was given subcutaneously from sixth day until absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >500/microL. One third of the acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and 45% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases were primary refractory disease. In AML patients, complete remission (CR) was achieved in 15 cases (53.6%). One case showed partial remission (PR) (3.6%) and 12 cases (42.8%) had resistant to this regimen (RD). Grade IV hematologic toxicity occurred in all AML cases. Leukocyte recovery time was 16 days. Nonhematologic complications were mild to moderate nausea, vomiting, and mucositis and could be controlled by routine measures. Stem cell transplantation was performed in 5 patients and all achieved CR, 2 autologous and 3 allogeneic. In ALL patients, CR and PR were obtained in 8 (42.2%) and 2 (10.5%) of 22 cases; disease was resistant to Ida-FLAG in 9 (47.3%) cases. Grade IV hematologic toxicity occurred in all ALL cases. Leukocyte recovery time was 17 days. Nonhematologic toxicity consisted of nausea, vomiting, and mucositis and could be controlled by supportive therapy. Autologous transplantation was performed in 1 patient, but relapse disease occurred after 5 weeks. There was no correlation between response rate and leukemia subtype (AML versus ALL), leukocyte count, age, sex, disease status (de novo versus secondary), and RFS (early versus late relapse) (P > 0.05). Median survival was 16 weeks in all cases (22 weeks in AML versus 13 weeks). At present, only 3 patients are alive and 2 of these are in continuous remission. The rest of the patients died. In conclusion, Ida-FLAG is a good choice in cases with refractory/relapsing acute leukemia for salvage chemotherapy. High efficacy and a low-toxicity profile are preferable properties of this regimen, and this regimen has been found to be useful for cytoreduction, especially in candidates for allo-SCT.     

An eight year experience with gradually longer interval postremission therapy for adults with acute leukemia

Between January 1980 and March 1983, a study was conducted into the effects of postremission therapy on 20 patients with acute leukemia who had achieved complete remission through induction therapy. Postremission therapy consisted of cyclic administration of six combination therapies given at gradually longer intervals. Postremission therapy used DCMP (D, daunorubicin; C, cytosine arabinoside; M, 6-mercaptopurine; P, prednisolone), DCyMP (Cy, cyclocytidine), DCVP (V, vincristine), BHAC-DMP (BHAC, behenoyl-ara-c), BHAC-AMP (A, aclarubicin) and ACM-MP (ACM, aclacinomycin). Six combinations were given sequentially starting at one month interval, and then at 2, 3, 4, 5 and eventually 6 month intervals until 5 year survival was reached. The median remission duration was 38 months for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), and 17 months for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The median survival was 66 months for AML, and 33 months for ALL. The survival rate at 5 years was 60% for AML., 40% for ALL, and 50% in all 20 patients. Methotrexate and prednisolone were administered intrathecally for prophylaxis of CNS leukemia on Day 4 of each stage of postremission therapy. There was no CNS leukemia. This postremission therapy was shown to be effective in improving the prognosis of adults with acute leukemia.     

Effects of biological response modifiers on childhood ALL being in remission after chemotherapy

Of 125 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), who had been in continuous remission for three years on chemotherapy, 108 patients received biological response modifiers (BRM) such as Bestatin, N-CWS, OK-432 and/or PSK in order to prevent relapse after treatment suspension. From 20 patients who were treated with PSK, 6 relapsed within 13 months. This relapse rate was quite similar to the rate observed with those children who were off therapy (4 relapses in 17 patients within 13 months). In contrast to these 37 patients, only 3 out of 31 patients who received Bestatin (p less than 0.05) and 8 out of 57 patients who received N-CWS or OK-432 relapsed. Based on these findings, BRMs used in the present study seems to be effective to prevent relapse of leukemia among childhood ALL who have electively stopped chemotherapy.