Vincristine and Prednisolone Therapy in Blast Crisis of Chronic Myelogenous Leukaemia in Childhood

Abstract

6 cases of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) blast crisis in childhood were treated with vincristine and prednisolone (V‐P). In 3 terminal transferase (TdT)‐positive cases, blast cells were lymphoid in appearance. All 3 TdT‐positive patients entered a complete remission but developed meningeal leukaemia. The mean duration of survival from the onset of blast crisis was 32 months. In 3 TdT‐negative cases, V‐P therapy was ineffective. The results of this study suggest that V‐P therapy is more effective for CML blast crisis in childhood with TdT positive blast cells and that prophylactic central nervous system treatment is necessary to prevent meningeal leukaemia.