[High methotrexate doses in the treatment program for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphosarcoma in children]

Tolerability and efficacy of high-dose methotrexate was studied in 70 pediatric patients with lymphoblastic tumors (acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma). Methotrexate was given by 24-hour infusion of 500-1000 mg/m2 (total dose-700-3000 mg) after remission had been achieved. An antidote--calcium folinate--was administered 24 hours postinfusion. Major adverse side-effects involved were stomatitis, hepatotoxicity and fever. Survival in the study group was higher than in controls.