Abstract

Fifty children with acute leukaemia (44 lymphatic, 6 myeloid) were treated with daunorubicin. In 3 cases, it was given in courses of daily injections; in 47, single injections were given at 7- to 14-day intervals. On the latter (intermittent) regimen, in combination with prednisolone, a good response—complete, bone marrow, or clinical remission—occurred in 22 of 27 cases (81%) of `new' or previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukaemia but in only 3 of 13 cases previously treated with other drugs. With acute myeloid leukaemia a good response occurred only when daunorubicin was given in combination with other cytotoxic drugs. The major side-effect was bone marrow depression with the related complications of haemorrhage and infection. Cardiotoxicity was not a problem; the cumulative total dose of daunorubicin did not exceed 26·8 mg/kg. This study indicates that intermittent dosage with 2-3 mg/kg at intervals of 7 to 14 days is as effective as, and no more toxic than, the courses of daily injections that have been commonly used.