Induction

The aim of induction therapy is to induce complete remission: by treating patients with strong doses of specific anti-leukemic agents at very precise moments, the great majority of leukemic cells are destroyed: the patient achieves complete remission.

According to Pui et al (2006), the standard induction regimens include vincristine and a corticosteroid (prednisolone or prednisone, or dexamethasone), plus asparaginase in children and an anthracycline such as doxorubicin in adults. However, it is now accepted that better remission rates and more prolonged remissions can be achieved with more intensive induction therapy using 4 to 5 drugs—often vincristine, a corticosteroid, asparaginase, and an anthracycline, with or without cyclophosphamide. Imatinib, either alone or as part of combination regimens, has also shown some promise in both induction and intensification therapy of BCR-ABL-positive ALL.

However, it has been proved that this phase alone was not sufficient to completely cure the cancer. Consolidation and maintenance phases have been added to treatment regimens for long period of time.