Prognosis of Acute Childhood Leukemia: Observations on 21 Long Survival Cases

Abstract

Long term survival of acute leukemia has been made possible by the recent advances in chemotherapeutic agents and general managements.
From 1963 to 1971 we treated 78 cases of acute leukemia in childhood; 8 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 16 cases of peroxydase-negative cells of acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 19 cases of peroxydase-positive cells of AML, 8 of acute promyelocytic leukemia and 27 of acute stem cell leukemia. Eight cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia were excluded in this study, for no cases were survived for more 2 years.
Fifty-six remissions were induced and 21 patients survived for more than 2 years. Forty per cent of cases of ALL and peroxydase-negative cells of AML are included in this group. Remission rate was low in patients under 1 year and the highest rate of more 2-year-suruival was seen in patients between ages of 6 and 10 years. Fourteen of these 21 long survivors had 60 relapses and 11 them died. Meningeal lekemia occurred in 33 per cent of 56 patients in whom remission were induced and in 42 per cent of patients with survival period of more than 2 years.
No correlation was seen between long term survival and clinical features and peripheral blood analyses.