Cytosine arabinoside:Results of a cooperative study in acute childhood leukemia

Abstract

Cytosine arabinoside was given as a rapid daily intravenous injection a t a dose of 3 to 5 mg/kg/day to children with acute leukemia who had received previous antileukemia therapy. Forty-three children were adequately treated; two (5%) achieved a complete remission; 13 (30%) h a d a good partial remission and 11 (26%) attained an MI marrow rating. T w o children with erythroleukemia achieved good partial remissions. Seven of ten children with leukemia of the central nervous system showed improvement in cerebrospinal fluid findings without additional therapy. Significant toxicity was limited to hematologic depression. Vomiting usually was associated with single doses of cytosine arabinoside in excess of 10 mg/kg/dose.