[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: comparison of traditional treatment with intensive therapy methods]

In this study we compare two different therapies for the treatment of non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Forty-four children diagnosed as having non-B ALL were treated by one of two methods: 20 children were treated from 1981 to 1984 according to the PETHEMA 7/78 protocol and 24 children were treated from 1984 to 1987 following the BFM 83 protocol. These treatments differ in that BFM 83 includes a higher number of cytostatics, uses intravenous methotrexate at moderate doses as "reservoirs" treatment and a lower dose of holocranial radiotherapy. The BFM 83 treatment resulted in a significant improvement in survival (48% versus 92% p < 0.05), as well as in the absence of further events (45% versus 88%, p < 0.01).