Medical Research Council leukaemia trial, UKALL VII. A report to the Council by the Working Party on Leukaemia in Childhood.

Authors:
  • RHR Hardisty
    R Hardisty
  • CBC Bailey
    C Bailey
  • PBP Barbor
    P Barbor
  • NBN Barnes
    N Barnes
  • ACA Craft
    A Craft
  • JCJ Chessells
    J Chessells
  • SDS Dempsey
    S Dempsey
  • BEB Eden
    B Eden
  • MEM Emerson
    M Emerson
  • IEI Evans
    I Evans
  • JFJ Fennelly
    J Fennelly
  • DGD Galton
    D Galton
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Abstract
Eighty two eligible children with 'standard risk' lymphoblastic leukaemia were entered into the Medical Research Council UKALL VII trial. Three failed to remit. With a minimum follow up time of four years, actuarial relapse free survival for the remainder was 65%; a significant improvement over the two preceding 'standard risk' trials at the same stage. Only one of five treatment variables possibly affected relapse free survival; this being whether methotrexate was given orally or parenterally during remission maintenance treatment. Twenty seven of 36 patients (75%) who were given intramuscular methotrexate remain alive and in their first remission compared with 23 of 41 (56%) given the drug orally. Although statistically significant differences in small trials should be interpreted with caution, this finding raises the possibility that orally administered methotrexate is not completely absorbed.

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