The United Kingdom Medical Research Council trials for the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

This review charts the evolution of therapy for childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in the United Kingdom based on the United Kingdom Medical Research Council ALL trials. The present chemotherapeutic regimen is the result of experience gained from carefully planned randomized cooperative studies carried out during the last two decades. Ln common with the experience of others, the best results have been in those treated with postremission intensification blocks. At present, 70% of children with ALL in the UK can be cured, but there may be a medical cost of such a cure in terms of both acute and long-term toxicity. This is especially true when central nervous system (CNS) therapy with cranial irradiation is used. Present regimens are examining chemotherapeutic options for CNS disease control and the efficacy of additional postremission intensification in those in first remission and high-dose chemotherapy followed by transplantation in those in second remission.