[Treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia in adult]

Since April, 1978 to October, 1988, 66 acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients aged 15 to 79 (21 L1, 43 L2, 2 L3/6 Ph1+) were treated with 3 different therapeutic protocols. The drugs used for induction were VCR (VDS) + Pred, followed by DNR + VCR (VDS) + 6MP + Pred and VCR (VDS) + L-asp + Pred in protocol I, Ad + VCR + Pred in protocol II and DNR + VCR + Pred in protocol III. Complete remission (CR) was attained in 72.7% of 66 patients. The CR rate of each group as followings; 71.4% in protocol I and 75.0% in protocol II and III, respectively. The median duration of remission was 10.2 months + and the probability of being in continuous CR at 3 years was 21.9%. For the 48 patients in remission the median survival was 17.8 months and the probability of being alive at 3 years was 24.3%. The intensified induction and consolidation therapy is expected in the cure oriented treatment of adult ALL.