Abstract

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. Childhood cancer incidence in Vietnam is supposed to be 150/million, that is to say 3,299 /year. Children-with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are usually treated according to risk groups, defined by both clinical and laboratory features. The intensity of treatment required for favorable outcome varies substantially among subsets of children with ALL. Factors commonly used for risk stratification are age(1-9 y/o is favorable), leucocyte count(<50×109/L is favorable). The other factors are immunophenotype, genotype and minimal residual disease after induction. Induction chemotherapy consists of the following drugs, with or without an anthracycline: vincristine, corticosteroid, prednisone or dexamethasone, L-Asparaginase, doxorubicin or daunorubicin and IT methotrexate. After induction chemotherapy we usually perform consolidation chemotherapy and maintenance chemotherapy. It needs also CNS therapy. Results of recently completed clinical trials for acute lymphoblastic leukemia revealed 75-85% of event free survival at 5 years after starting chemotherapy. Childhood ALL in the developing country is also curable. But not nationwide yet. Only in a few center hospital. You need to gather many special health care providers and patients in a center hospital. Main causes of treatment failure are refusal to start the treatment, abandonment during the treatment, relapse and toxic effects. Intemational collaboration such as global pediatric oncology collaboration, non-profit foundations, continuing education, clinical research and twinning programs are very useful