Bleomycin doxorubicine and prednisolone combination for induction therapy for high risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

ABSTRACT

In the period between September 1993 and January 1994, Vincristine was not available in Iraq. During this period, ten patients [aged 13-40 years] were admitted to one of the medical units at Baghdad Teaching Hospital - Baghdad with the diagnosis of high risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia [ALL] [seven were newly diagnosed cases, while three were relapsed ALLs]. These patients received an induction therapy consisting of Bleomycin, Doxorubicine and Prednisolone. Of the seven newly diagnosed ALL so treated, six obtained complete remission, 2 of whom were still in remission at their last follow up 110 weeks of their initial diagnosis. The remaining 4 patients relapsed 2-80 w after diagnosis due to non-compliance with maintenance therapy. None of the three relapsed ALLs cases achieved complete remission. This regimen was not a trial and was stopped as soon as Vincristine became available again, however the encouraging results noted warrant in our opinion reconsidering the role of Bleomycin in induction protocols for newly diagnosed high risk ALLs