A toxicity study of cyclophosphamide in combination induction therapy in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia: A report for childrens cancer study group

In a CCSG study, the addition of cyclophosphamide to L-asparaginase, vincristine, and predni-sone (C-OPA) did not add a major toxic burden or deter from induction efficiency when compared to L-asparaginase, vincristine, and prednisone (OPA) for average and poor prognosis children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. At the end of 56 days, death rates and complete remission rates were identical in both groups. Although there was more major toxicity, i.e., three septicemic episodes in the C-OPA group versus one in the OPA group, there were no resultant deaths, and the overall frequency of infection was the same in both groups.