Actinomycin D in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Eighteen evaluable children who relapsed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were treated with intermittent, high-dose actinomycin D. Objective responses occurred in four of 11 children who had relapsed with chemotherapy which did not contain an anthracycline. The major toxic effects included thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia. Minor toxic effects included nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and stomatitis. The onset of the maculopapular skin rash coincided with the platelet count nadir. These data suggested that actinomycin D is active in ALL.