 NOTE: Ph ALL patients did not participate in asparaginase randomization but were directly assigned to receive IM-EC during post-induction therapy. Patients who were eligible but declined randomization were also directly assigned to receive IM-EC. Patients who developed severe pancreatitis defined as symptoms persisting for 72 h during induction were not eligible for randomization and received no further doses of asparaginase. Patients who had hypersensitivity to IV-PEG during induction were also ineligible for randomization, but received twice-weekly IM-EC 25 000 IUm2 during the post-induction treatment phases. 