Pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and 11-dehydro-17 hydroxy corticosterone (cortisone) therapy in the leukemias and lymphomas of children

The data concerning 16 cases of leukemia and one case of lymphosarcoma in children treated with pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and 11-dehydro-17-hydroxy corticosterone (cortisone) are presented. Treatment of this group of diseases in children with these hormones resulted in complete but temporary remissions in a large proportion of the cases. Most patients in which remissions were produced were almost completely refractory to retreatment with the hormones. Chemical studies indicated that in those patients in which a remission was produced, coincident with the remission there was a mass destruction of leukemic tissue. Great variations were noted from patient to patient and also in the same patient in regard to the cytologic, physiologic and biochemical effects of the hormones. Although ACTH and cortisone are unsatisfactory for permanent treatment of the leukemias and lymphomas, they offer invaluable tools for the investigator in the study of these diseases.