Protocol Studies in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Theme of Comparative Studies
1997 Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 139-154
Details
1997 Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 139-154
Prospective randomized control studies have been playing a crucial role in the treatment progress of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia around the world. Beginning from the Total Therapy Series of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Children's Cancer Group, Pediatric Oncology Group, St. Jude, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in North America, and Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) Study Group in Germany have been leading this field. Since the 1980s, the BFM protocols, their strategy by multi-agent intensive induction and reinduction in particular, have been accepted by many European and developing countries worldwide because of their consistent remarkable improvement in the treatment results of childhood ALL. It seems likely that there will be many modification studies and comparative studies on the basis of BFM protocols in the near future. By reviewing past and current strategies of the study groups overseas, we learn the necessity of consistent efforts to make optimal plans and maintain large-scale highly qualified patient registration and follow-up to produce reliable conclusions.
