Acute lymphocytic leukemia in children

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Abstract
An overview is presented of the improvements in the prognosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia due to combined modality therapy. With the best available regimens, approximately 50% of these children have remained leukemia-free for 5 years or more. Because of these results, there is growing concern for the quality of survival and for the side effects of therapy. A case in point is a completely unexpected side effect in a current study. Nonleukemic leukoencephalopathy has developed in 8 of 20 children given intravenous methotrexate, 50-80 mg/m2 per week, as the sole agent following remission induction and CNS therapy. Thus, with longer remissions and survivals now commonly observed, a concerted effort is needed to minimize side effects while trying to improve further the efficacy of therapy.