induction of remission

induction of remission

Oncology The initial phase of a 3-step chemotherapeutic regimen used to treat acute leukemia; in ALL, prednisone and vincristine induce remission in 90% of children and 50% of adults, which ↑ to 80% by adding a third drug–eg, l-asparginase, daunorubicin or doxorubicin; in AML, therapeutic levels of these agents approach BM toxicity. See Consolidation chemotherapy, Maintenance chemotherapy.