[Childhood leukemias]

Acute leukemias of childhood differ considerably from the adult type with regard to clinical and laboratory findings as well as prognosis (Tables 1-3). Therapeutic progress (Table 4) within the last two decades has resulted not only in remarkable palliation, but increasingly also in true cure. However, this development appears to be far from complete, and to think in terms of a definitive scheme of treatment is therefore misleading and dangerous. On the contrary, work in cooperative study groups aiming at further therapeutic improvement must continue. All children with leukemia in Switzerland may benefit from the advances offered by such studies if they are initially admitted to one of our centers of pediatric oncology. Further control and follow-up, however, can continue to be carried out on a decentralized basis by practicing pediatricians and hematologists.