Combination of vincristine and prednisone in therapy of acute leukemia in children

VM-26 with prednisone and vincristine for treatment of refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia

Fifty-six children with refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were assessed for remission-induction responses to VM-26 (250 mg/m2 per week) in combination with prednisone (40 mg/m2 per day) and vincristine (1.5 mg/m2 per week). Each child had been treated intensively with steroids, vincristine, daunorubicin and L-asparaginase. In fact, all patients had failed to respond to previous reinduction therapy with prednisone-vincristine or had relapsed while receiving vincristine. Our intent in this study was to test whether or not addition of VM-26 to prednisone-vincristine would overcome clinical resistance to these established agents. Complete remissions were induced in 17 patients (0.30) over 4 to 6 weeks. Five of these children, all clinically unresponsive to prednisone-vincristine alone, had complete remissions that lasted longer than 1 year; two remain in remission for 2 1/2 years and both are now off therapy. Myelosuppression, the most serious treatment complication, was documented in 20 of 26 evaluable patients. The median time to recovery of normal marrow function was 15 days. These results demonstrate further the potential of VM-26 in combined-drug treatment of refractory ALL. Whether the effectiveness of this combination represents potentiation of prednisone and vincristine activity by VM-26 or some other, as yet unidentified interaction, remains to be determined.

Improved treatment results in the management of single and multiple relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

One hundred twenty-five hematologic relapses of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were treated with a four-drug reinduction regimen consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, daunomycin, and prednisone (Asp-VDP). Complete remission was achieved in 114 of 125 (91%) treatment courses. The regimen also proved to be highly effective in the management of multiple subsequent relapses which occurred in patients who had previously attained complete remissions with this regimen. The rates of remission induction for second and third reinduction attempts were 89% and 90%, respectively. Ten patients received this regimen for the treatment of four or more consecutive relapses and achieved complete remissions on each occasion. Toxicities related to therapy were not excessive. Although myelosuppression was the most frequently encountered toxicity, documented infection complicated only 14% of the treatment courses. These results constitute a considerable improvement in the management of recurrent ALL.