Intermittent central nervous system irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy for central nervous system leukemia in children.

Between 1979 and 1985, nine children with recurrent CNS leukemia who had previous radiation of more than 1800 cGy to the brain were treated with intermittent central nervous system irradiation and intrathecal chemotherapy (IIIC). There was no isolated CNS recurrence. Three patients died; one from generalized recurrent disease, two from complications associated with bone marrow transplantation. Six patients are alive without evidence of disease between 9 years and 2 4/12 years from the diagnosis of recurrent CNS leukemia. This experience suggests that IIIC may be an effective treatment for preventing the recurrence of CNS leukemia with minimal side effects.