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| Detailed Guide: Leukemia - Adult Acute |
ALL Treatment |
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Treatment takes place in four phases:
- remission induction
- consolidation
- maintenance therapy
- central nervous system prophylaxis.
Based on the patient's prognostic factors, the remission induction chemotherapy program will generally include some if not all of the following drugs -- cytoxan, vincristine, prednisone, L-asparaginase, and doxorubicin.
Once a remission has been achieved, the next phase, consolidation will consist of intermittent treatment with a regimen similar to the induction therapy but perhaps with the addition of other drugs such as 6 MP, 6TG and Cytarabine. This may be a single course over one month or up to three courses over three months. After consolidation, the patient is generally put on a maintenance program of methotrexate with 6-MP, often combined with vincristine and prednisone. Maintenance lasts about two years.
Because ALL often spreads to the coverings of the brain and spinal cord, patients typically receive prophylactic (preventive) chemotherapy in the spinal fluid (usually methotrexate). Sometimes radiation therapy of the head is added. If an adult patient with ALL relapses they are generally considered candidates for a bone marrow transplant procedure but only if they respond to new chemotherapy
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