Long-term second remissions in acute lymphatic leukemia

Cancer. 1975 Apr;35(4):1136-40. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197504)35:4<1136::aid-cncr2820350417>3.0.co;2-t.

Abstract

Long-term second remissions were seen in 5/66 patients with all. Relapse was extramedullary in 2/5. Persistent, progressive marrow lymphocytosis preceded relapse in 4/5 patients and persistent marrow eosinophilia in 1/5. All 5 patients had had an unmaintained remission of at least 6 months prior to relapse, and responded the second time to drugs which were essentially the same as those used initially. We conclude that long-term second remissions may occur in all. Patients who relapse after 6 months or more of unmaintained remission should be treated with the drugs used in current initial induction regimens in hope of cure.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Lymphoid / mortality
  • Male
  • Mercaptopurine / therapeutic use
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Vincristine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisolone
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Prednisone
  • Methotrexate