The effects of the folic acid antagonists and 2,6-diaminopurine on neoplastic disease.With special reference to acute leukemia

Abstract

INCE the original report by Farber and co-workcrs" on the use of tlie 4-amino derivatives of pteroylglutamic acid1 (folic acid) in thc acute leukemias of childhood, there have been nunierous reports concerning the therapeutic value of this method of treat-,l,ent.3, 21, 23, 2 6 , 39, 40, 12, 5 3 , 5.5, 61, G2, 6 3 , 64, '77, 8 3 , 84, 8s. 89, 91-U3, 95-103 I n this report, the results of antimetabolite therapy in eighty-eight cases of acute leukemia in which treatment a t Memorial Hospital was initiated between Fcbruary, 1948, and November, 1949, will bc discussed. Patients whose treatment was begun alter Kovcniber, 1949, have purposely been omitted, so that at least thirteen months have elapsed since the start of therapy, and, altliougli six arc still living, some idea of the avcragc survival time following treatment may be obtained. l'his can be compared with the survival time of 150 cases of acute leukemia treated at Menioi-ial Hospital prior to 1948, before the advent of antifolic therapy.76 I n addition to the acutc leukemias, a total of seventy-four patients with other types of neoplastic disease have been studied, including eighteen cases of subacute or chronic myelocytic leukemia, three of chronic lymphocytic From the Chemotherapy, Medical, and Pediatric Services of Memorial Center for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York.