The study was terminated due to excessive toxicity and low compliance to the protocol scheme.

Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and positivity for the breakpoint cluster region-Abelson murine leukemia (BCR-ABL) protein or the Philadelphia chromosome have a poor prognosis with standard chemotherapy. The prognosis seemed to improve following the adition of imatinibe, a BCR-ABL inhibitor, to the treatment but still a substantial amount of patients relapse or progress during treatment.

Nilotinib is a BCR-ABL inhibitor more potent than imatinib. It has been shown to be effective against most of the cells that bear mutations of the BCR-ABL protein leading to resistance to imatinibe.

The investigators' hypothesis is that the addition of nilotinib to a standard chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will translate into more rapid BCR-ABL reduction and effectiveness against imatinib-resistant clones leading to less relapses and better survival.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
• BCR-ABL positive positive by PCR (central Lab)
• No previous treatment for ALL except for corticoids and cyclophosphamide less than 600 mg/m2
• Must be able to swallow tablets
• Lab results within normal limits (Potassium, Calcium, Magnesio, Phosphorus, Transaminases, Alkaline Phosphatase, Bilirrubine, Amylase, Lypase)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Heart disease
• Interval QTc Fridericia > 480 msec
• Coumadin use
• Pregnancy
• PS = 4
• Previous medical history of etilism or/and pancreatic disease