Response to highly purified L-asparaginase during therapy of acute leukemia.

Abstract

Seven of nineteen patients with acute lymphatic leukemia and eight of eighteen patients with acute granulocytic leukemia received l-asparaginase according to a daily dosage schedule of 2,000 IU or more per kg for twenty-one days or more. Six of the seven acute lymphatic leukemia patients and four of the eight acute granulocytic leukemia patients underwent a complete bone marrow remission. In contrast, only two patients with acute lymphatic leukemia and none of the patients with acute granulocytic leukemia obtained a complete remission at lower dosage levels. l-Asparaginase is relatively nontoxic and does not exhibit cross-resistance with conventional agents. Further study is merited in order to determine its ultimate effectiveness either alone in higher dosages or in combination with conventional agents.