The effect of thioguanine on a combination of daunorubicine, cytarabine and prednisone in the treatment of acute leukaemia in adults. The Finnish Leukaemia Group.

194 adults with acute leukaemia were randomly allocated to be treated with a combination of daunorubicine, cytarabine and prednisone either with (RAP + T) or without (RAP) thioguanine. A remission was achieved in 37% of 101 patients treated with RAP and in 35% of 93 patients treated with RAP + T. The survival and length of remission were similar in both groups. Neither regimen was superior to the other in any type of leukaemia nor in any age group of patients. In 9 of the patients failing to remit with RAP treatment a remission was obtained with other chemotherapy, while none of the patients not responding to RAP + T achieved a remission with further chemotherapy.