A total of 110 adult ALL patients were enrolled in this
study between July 2002 and August 2008 on the basis
of the following eligibility criteria: non-L3 ALL, 16–65
years of age, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
performance status of 0–2, and adequate liver and kidney
function (serum bilirubin, ≤2.0 mg/dl and serum
creatinine, ≤2.0 mg/dl, respectively). Cytogenetic studies
were performed on pretreated bone marrow or unstimulated
blood samples using the standard banding technique.
The treatment protocol was approved by the
institutional review board of each participating hospital.
Written informed consent was obtained from all patients
in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Of the
110 patients enrolled, 42 were excluded from the study
because of Ph-positivity, 5 because of misdiagnosis, 2 because
of infectious complications, and 1 each because of
liver damage and protocol violation. The remaining 59
patients were Ph-negative.