Anthracycline use during induction

Source: Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.

Source updated: April 21, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.

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Context: Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Childhood ALL / Standard Induction Treatment Options for Newly Diagnosed ALL / Remission induction chemotherapy

The COG protocols administer a three-drug induction (vincristine, corticosteroid, and pegaspargase) to NCI standard-risk B-ALL patients and a four-drug induction (vincristine, corticosteroid, and pegaspargase plus an anthracycline) to NCI high-risk B-ALL and all T-ALL patients. Other groups use a four-drug induction for all patients.[1-3]

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In induction regimens that include an anthracycline, either daunorubicin or doxorubicin are typically used. In a randomized trial comparing the two agents during induction, there were no differences in early response measures, including reduction in peripheral blood blast counts during the first week of therapy, day 15 marrow morphology, and end-induction MRD levels.[33][Level of evidence B3]

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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice