Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Acute B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES: I. Improve the survival of children and adolescents with poor-risk nonlymphoblastic lymphoma and acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia using an intensive, short-course regimen of combination chemotherapy. II. Assess the toxicity of the regimen. OUTLINE: Nonrandomized study. Induction: 7-Drug Combination Chemotherapy with Leucovorin Rescue plus Triple Intrathecal Therapy (TIT). Cyclophosphamide, CTX, NSC-26271; Thiotepa, TSPA, NSC-6396; Vincristine, VCR, NSC-67574; Daunorubicin, DNR, NSC-82151; Dexamethasone, DM, NSC-34521; Etoposide, VP-16, NSC-141540; Methotrexate, MTX, NSC-740; with Leucovorin calcium, Citrovorum Factor, CF, NSC-3590; plus TIT: IT MTX; IT Cytarabine, IT ARA-C, NSC-63878; IT Hydrocortisone, IT HC, NSC-10483. Consolidation: 6-Drug Combination Chemotherapy with Leucovorin Rescue plus TIT. ARA-C; VP-16; Asparaginase (E. coli), ASP, NSC-109229; MTX; VCR; Methylprednisolone, MePRDL, NSC-19987; with CF; plus TIT. Reinduction: 7-Drug Combination Chemotherapy with Leucovorin Rescue plus TIT. CTX; TSPA; VCR; DNR; DM; VP-16; MTX; with CF; plus TIT. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 30 patients, accrued from 4 institutions, will be entered. If at any time more than 3 patients are not "event free", the trial will be terminated early, with patients considered event free if they enter remission, do not die as a result of treatment toxicity, and do not experience progression within 1 year from the start of therapy.