TREATMENT OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA IN RELAPSE

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.