Cytosine arabinoside in acute leukemia of childhood

Arabinosyl cytosine (Ara-C), 25 mg/kg by rapid intravenous infusion twice a week, was administered to 84 children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and 14 children with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Of 74 evaluable patients with ALL, there were 24 complete remissions (CR) for a rate of 32.4%. Of 12 evaluable patients with AML, there were 4 CR for a rate of 33.3%. Most remissions were less than 11 weeks in duration, whether or not maintained with Ara-C, although 4 maintained remissions lasted 17–25 weeks. Toxicity consisted mainly of vomiting, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.