Daunorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone for remission induction in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in relapse.

Patients with recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with daunorubicin (40 mg/m2/week X 4), vincristine (1.5 mg/m2/week X 4), and prednisone (40 mg/m2/day x 28). All of the patients had been treated with the same combination during the first induction treatment. Of 266 patients (221 children and 45 adults) treated in first relapse, 141 (53%) achieved complete remission (CR; 55% of the children and 44% of the adults). Of 61 patients who were re-treated with the same combination after the second relapse, 14 (23%) achieved CR. The difference between second and third CR was statistically significant (P less than 0.0005). The median durations of second and third CR were 8 and 6 weeks, respectively. No significant difference was observed when the duration of CR was compared with the initial wbc count, age at diagnosis, or duration of first CR.