Combination chemotherapy for children with acute lymphocytic leukemia who fail to respond to standard remission-induction therapy.

Short courses of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), cyclophosphamide, and L-asparaginase were given to seven children with newly diagnosed acute lymphocytic leukemia, who had failed to remit on standard remission induction therapy. These 4-day courses of Ara-C and cyclophophamide followed by 4 days of L-asparaginase were repeated at 3- to 4-week intervals for two or four courses. Complete remission occurred in six patients. The median duration of remission was 94+ days, on various maintenance regimens. The most serious side effect was neutropenia. This combination of these three drugs appears to be effective remission-induction therapy for children with ALL with unfavorable prognostic features.