Ineffectiveness of laetrile in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Much controversy remains over the use of laetrile in the treatment of leukemia. Public opinion has been responsible for several state legislatures enacting bills allowing the use of laetrile for patients with leukemia and other malignancies. We recently cared for a 3 1/2-year-old child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who had low initial white blood cell count, limited organomegaly, and absence of T or B cell markers. A good prognosis was anticipated. Conventional therapy was interrupted for long periods of time with laetrile. Laetrile was ineffective in maintaining or inducing remission. Despite favorable prognosis, the child developed several relapses and died with widespread infiltration of leukemia in the central nervous system, bone marrow and viscera.