The role of cytosine arabinoside maintenance in acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia.
A series of 30 unselected patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) was treated with combination chemotherapy, including three courses of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) by 5-day continuous i.v. infusion, vincristine i.v. weekly, and prednisone daily to complete remission. Ara-C was administered alone as a 5-day continuous i.v. infusion monthly for maintenance. Ten (33%) achieved a complete remission (CR). The remaining 30 (67%), including temporary partial remissions, hematologic improvements, inadequate trials, and early deaths, were all considered failures. The CR rate was 57% in those 17 cases receiving an adequate trial. After After 5 1/2 years' followup, the overall median survival, including cases failing to achieve CR, was 3.1 months. For those having adequate trials the median survival was 16.6 months, and for those achieving a CR, 36.6 months. Two patients are still alive, one at 55.2 months on maintenance therapy, and the other at 62.8 months, currently unmaintained.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002648:Child; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000652:urine; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D009113:Muramidase; D011241:Prednisone