The antifolate agent methotrexate is an important component of maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, although methotrexate-related toxicity is often a reason for interruption of chemotherapy. Prediction of toxicity is difficult because of inter-individual variability susceptibility to antileukemic agents. Methotrexate interferes with folate metabolism leading to depletion of reduced folates.
Department of Morphology and Embryology, Section of Histology, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. ngrlss@unife.it
