[An intensification therapy of adults acute leukemia]

Between January 1980 and March 1983, a study was conducted on the effects of intensification therapy in 20 adult acute leukemia patients who had achieved complete remission with induction therapy. Intensification therapy consisted of cyclic administration of six combination therapies given at gradually longer intervals, using daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine and prednisolone (DCMP), cyclocytidine (DCyMP), vincristine (DCVP), behenoyl-ara-c (BHAC-DMP), aclacinomycin (BHAC-AMP) and (ACM-MP). Six combinations were given sequentially at one-month intervals, at 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and eventually 6-month intervals, until 5-year survival. The median remission duration was 38 months for AML, and 17 months for ALL. The median survival was 66 months for AML, and 37 months for ALL. The five year survival rate was 50%. Nine of the 20 patients are still alive. Methotrexate and prednisolone were administered intrathecally for prophylaxis of CNS leukemia on Day 4 for each intensification therapy. There was no CNS leukemia. This intensification protocol was shown to be effective in improving the prognosis of adults acute leukemia.