Predictable risk factors in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The predictable prognostic factors were analysed among 174 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who were treated during the last ten years under different protocols in one institute. It was confirmed that the children under 1 year of age, or with T-cell marker, had poor prognosis. The initial WBC of more than 50,000/mm3 was less significant as a predictable risk factor with chemotherapy of the newer protocols. Cell kinetic study was found to be of no more help than the initial WBC, but a more accurate prediction could be obtained by measuring glucocorticoid receptor of leukemic cells. The prognosis was poor among children with initial WBC of more than 50,000/mm3 and receptors of less than 20,000 sites per cell.