[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: which prognostic factors in 1992?]

Considerable advances were made during the Eighties in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children, using an intensive treatment regimen. The impact of numerous diagnostic variables on the prognosis has been modified; their re-evaluation as prognosis factors is necessary. Great importance is now attributed to the appreciation of the tumor burden, to the immunophenotype, and most importantly to cytogenetic data. This paper describes the prognosis factors currently used to define risk-group, and risk-adapted treatment regimen.