L‐asparaginase used with cytosine arabinoside in treatment of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia refractory to vincristine and prednisone

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Abstract
Eleven patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia in relapse were treated with L‐asparaginase and cytosine arabinoside (1‐β‐D‐arabinofuranosylcytosine) in induction therapy and the same drugs plus cyclophosphamide in maintenance therapy. Three patients had complete remissions lasting 6, 16, and 78+ weeks. One patient experienced partial remission and four had decreased bone marrow or peripheral blasts but were not clinically improved. The responses, which were brief, lasted 1‐16 weeks with one exception of 78+ weeks. Four patients had allergic reactions to L‐asparaginase that were unpredictable with assays of antibodies against L‐asparaginase.