Treatment of Elderly Patients (>65 Years) With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Pilot Study for Treatment of Elderly Patients (>65 Years) With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The aim of this study is to test feasibility and efficacy of a dose reduced chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The regimen consists of induction phase I and II followed by cyclic consolidation cycles, reinduction and maintenance therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pro-B,common,pre-B,pre-T,Thy-,mature T, B-ALL)
• age > 65 years
• written informed consent
• Karnofsky > 50% (if not mainly caused by leukemia)
• laboratory at diagnosis or after supportive pre-treatment Creatinine < 2 mg/dl Uric Acid < 8 mg/dl Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dl ALA, ASA,AP < 2.5 x ULN

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe second diseases (e.g. renal failure, cardiomyopathy etc., not caused by leukemia) that exclude treatment according to the protocol
• severe psychiatric illness or other circumstances which may compromise cooperation
• active second neoplasia
• clinical signs of life threatening infections or bleeding, uncontrollable prior to chemotherapy