Therapy in childhood acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Evolution of current concepts of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy remains the major treatment modality in childhood acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Current remission induction rates range from 60% to 80%; but even with the improved rate of response to therapy, the median duration of remission has seldom exceeded 1 year. On the other hand, an increasing number of children with ANLL who were treated with intensive induction and maintenance chemotherapy regimens for a prescribed period followed by discontinuation of therapy are remaining in remission. The evolution of present-day chemotherapy approaches to childhood ANLL are reviewed in this article.