[Long-term survival of adults with acute leukemia [author's transl)]

Seven patients with acute leukemia, 20 to 49 years old, survived 4 years or more. Three patients are in complete remission after 9 1/2, 5 1/2, and 4 10/12 years. One patient has been in second complete remission for 20 months after the first remission lasting almost 12 years. One patient relapsed after 37 months duration of complete remission, two other patients died after 6 3/4 and 4 1/4 years survival. All patients demonstrated at the beginning of leukemia aleukemic courses, normal or slightly decreased platelet counts, small tumor masses, and were free of severe infections. Cytochemical findings, blast counts in bone marrow and peripheral blood, drug programs, and duration of induction treatments, however, were no prognostic parameters for longterm remission.