Rashid Mahmood, Sajid Magbool.
Management of patients with acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia comparison and outcome with two protocols - UKALL-X and modified BFM.
Pak J Pathol Nov ;11(3):79-83.

The single most important prognostic factor in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is effective chemotherapy. overriding the contribution of all other factors A retrospective analysis of 65 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of ALL %%-as performed over a period of 4 years from June 1990 to June 1994, The main objective was to compare the outcome results of two protocols. UKALL-X and BFM for the treatment of ALL, First 27 patients were treated with the protocol UKALL-X and next 38 patients were treated with the modified BFM protocol. Induction remission was seen in 85% of patients on UKALL-X and 86.6% of patients on BFM protocol. During the phase of consolidation thirteen patients (56.52%) on UKALL-X had severe sepsis and 8 (34.78%) expired. While with 33 patients on modified BFM protocol 10 (30,3(1%) developed severe sepsis but there was no mortality, Only 3 patients could complete their 3 years chemotherapy who initially were on UKALL-X protocol, while 16 could complete their 3 years of treatment who were treated with BFM protocol and 11 of these were in remission 3 years after treatment, Even better results can be expected by classifying the patients into standard and high risk. As the efficacy of treatment improves the importance of prognostic factors may decline, Modifications in treatment programs will continue to meet the dual challenge of minimal toxicity and maximal effect. In conclusion patients should be treated with protocols with minimum toxicity and maximum benefit but there should be no compromise in the cure of childhood leukemia.

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