1993 Volume 7 Issue 5 Pages 484-488
Twenty-one of the 26 patients (80.8%) achieved a complete remission. This remission rate is consistent with the best results previously reported. In order to improve disease-free survival (DFS), we designed two consolidation protocols during two different time periods. The results of protocol 78 consisting of cytosine arabinoside, adriamycin and neocarzinostatin were discouraging because of a high relapse rate of 71.4% and the actuarial DFS at 10 years is 28.6%±33.5%. On the other hand, the results of protocol 80 were promising with a 30.8% relapse rate and DFS of 50.8%±28.3% at 6 years. Cardiotoxicity due to anthracyclines developed in 3 cases including 2 patients with Down's syndrome. One patient with Down's syndrome died of congestive heart failure during complete remission, while cardiac functions of the other two patients have improved gradually within almost normal limits. Therefore, we must devise more effective and less toxic regimen.
