Treatment of juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia with sequential subcutaneous cytarabine and oral mercaptopurine

Abstract

Three cases of the juvenile type of chronic myeloid leukemia are described, all of which have shown a clinical and hematologic response to repeated cycles of sequential subcutaneous cytarabine and oral mercaptopurine. It appears that this regime, as described, may afford some control of a disease process previously supposed to be unresponsive to chemotherapy. This control, however, is likely to be reflected in an improvement in well-being, rather than overall survival time. Patient 1 survived 26 mo from diagnosis, and patients 2 and 3 are alive and well 12 and 9 mo from diagnosis, respectively.