L-asparaginase in treatment of acute leukemia in children.

L-asparaginase from Escherichia coli--Crasnitin was used in 14 children with acute leukemia unresponsive to conventional treatment: 11 acute lymphoblastic leukemias, 1 acute myeloblastic leukemia, 2 other forms of leukemia. The remission induction was obtained in 70% of applications. Median of remission duration was 90 days. Serious side effects were observed. The validity of L-asparaginase in therapy of advanced childhood ALL is stressed.