On induction of remission, central nervous system prophylaxis involved the injection of methotrexate and radiation treatment. Maintenance therapy involved the administration of 6- mercaptopurine and methotrexate, with occasional pulses of vincristine and prednisone for a period of 3 years. L-asparaginase is an enzyme that converts asparagine to aspartic acid. Some leukemias require Asn as an essential amino acid. That is not true for normal cells.
Allopurinol blocks xanthine oxidase, thus decreasing the amount of uric acid formation.
Cancer chemo results int he death of cells, thus more nucleic acid degradation, and an enhanced chance of gout resulting. Methotrexate blocks dihydrofolate reductase, thus preventing conversion of the vitamin folate to its active form. Prednisone is an anti-inflammatory agent, which will inhibit proliferation of lymphocytes. Vincristine is a vinca alkaloid, which blocks tubulin assembly, which is necessary for cell division. 6-mercaptopurine is a base analog of guanine.