Effectiveness of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia induction chemotherapy in acute lymphocytic leukemia

Twelve adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) received a combination of daunorubicin, cytarabine, and 6-thioguanine (DAT) as induction chemotherapy. Eleven patients (91%) gained complete remission (ten patients after a single course of treatment). Because DAT alone seems effective in ALL, the combination of vincristine, prednisone, and DAT could improve the complete remission rate. Moreover, the resulting early leukemic cytoreduction could enhance remission duration in adults with ALL.