[Results of Memphis-study VII ("Pinkel-Therapy") in 659 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cooperative therapeutic study of the German working group on childhood leukemia with participation of 42 hospitals].

659 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 42 German hospitals were diagnosed from January 1, 1971 until December 31, 1974, treated according to Memphis study VII or VIII2, and observed until December 31, 1976. At diagnosis 16,1% of the patients had a leukocyte count over 50 000/mm3, 8,5% a mediastinal enlargement, 2,0% a CNS-leukemia and 1,8% a Down-syndrome. After a treatment time of 2 1/2 years and an observation time of maximal 6, minimal 2 years 329 children (= 50,0%) were living, 257 (= 39,1%) in continuous complete remission, most of these 1-3 years after cessation of therapy. A primary relapse in the bone marrow occured in 36,3%, in the CNS in 10,0% of the patients. A cranial irradiation dose of 1800 rad in 120 patients yielded a CNS-relapse rate of 7,5%. 49 of the 659 children (= 7,4%) died in continuous complete remission, the main causes being interstitial pneumonia and varicella. No difference in initial features and treatment results was found between 7 centres with many patients and 35 hospitals with fewer patients.