Thirty-eight patients with a diagnosis of relapsed acute lymphocytic l
eukemia were accrued to a treatment program of reinduction therapy by
the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). A combination of mitoxa
ntrone, etoposide (VP-16), and high-dose cytarabine (ARA-C) were admin
istered over a five day period. Thirty-four patients were eligible for
follow-up subsequent to treatment. Twenty-seven patients were in firs
t relapse and seven were in second relapse. Fifteen of the thirty-four
patients treated were given two cycles of induction chemotherapy. The
complete remission (CR) rate for the entire group treated was 17%. Th
e median duration of the CR was 2.4 months and the estimated median su
rvival for first relapse patients was 4.5 months and 5.0 months for se
cond relapse patient group. There were five deaths attributable to tox
icity associated with the chemotherapy. The study emphasizes the diffi
culty in achieving durable remissions in adult patients with relapsed
ALL.