Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Survival in children.

A clinical study was performed to 80 children with ALL; the patients were classified into three groups. Group I, consisting of 20 patients treated before the GLATHEM cooperative study was initiated in our institution and of Groups II and III, consisting of 30 patients each included in the cooperative study. The probability of surviving 5 years is 40% for all patients with ALL entered on the study, and more than 50% for those included in the GLATHEM. The probability of remaining in complete remission for more than 6 years is significantly higher in "standard risk" patients than in "high risk" patients. The proportion of patients that may remain in complete remission 4 years or more, is greater in children who received levamisole than in those who did not.