Methotrexate infusions in poor prognosis acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: I. The Norwegian methotrexate study in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood, August 1975-December 1980.

One hundred fifty-three children with ALL were diagnosed in Norway in the period August 1975-December 1980. One hundred thirty-two of them received 3 infusions of methotrexate as consolidation therapy combined with methotrexate intrathecally as CNS prophylaxis. Eleven (44%) of the total 25 methotrexate cases with WBC above 50 X 10(9)/L were in CCR after 4 1/2-10 years. Two more cases had discontinued therapy, while in second remission. The event-free survival of all diagnosed 32 children in Norway with WBC above 50 X 10(9)/L was 37%. Seven infants below the age of 1 year are included in the 32 cases.