[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood. A 10-year experience with the DFCI 81-01 protocol].

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most frequently encountered pediatric cancer. Approximately 70% of cases can be cured of the disease. In this article, we describe the experience of our Center in the last ten years with a treatment protocol adapted from protocol DFCI 81-01 (from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston). We conclude that it is easily accomplished, well tolerated and that it allowed us to significantly improve the outcome of our patients (80% 5 year-survival). Nevertheless, we are currently in the process of changing to a new protocol--one that will hopefully achieve a comparable cure rate with less long-term toxicity.