Cytarabine with high-dose mitoxantrone induces rapid complete remissions in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia without the use of vincristine or prednisone.

Abstract

This dose-intense induction regimen produced a high incidence of CRs with acceptable toxicity without the use of vincristine or corticosteroids. Comparisons with our prior vincristine/prednisone-based induction regimen (the L-20 protocol) suggest that patients treated on the current study were more likely to achieve a CR and that they achieved this remission earlier than patients treated with a traditional four-drug (vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) induction regimen.