Aggressive chemotherapy for acute leukemia relapsed after bone marrow transplantation: a second chance?
Eight patients, 5 with acute non lymphoid leukemia and 3 with lymphoid leukemia, were treated at relapse after bone marrow transplantation (BMT; 4 autologous BMT and 4 allogeneic BMT). Of these, 2 relapsed within 3 months after BMT (2 allogeneic BMT) and 6 (2 allogeneic and 4 autologous BMT) after more than 9 months after BMT. The 2 patients relapsing early showed no response to treatment and died. Five out of 6 patients relapsing late achieved complete remission (4 of them with intensive chemotherapy). Four patients are currently alive. Aggressive combination chemotherapy can produce long-term survival in selected patients relapsed after BMT.
Sica
S
S
Istituto di Semeiotica Medica, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Roma, Italia.
Di Mario
A
A
Pagano
L
L
Etuk
B
B
Salutari
P
P
Leone
G
G
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D011241:Prednisone; D015255:Idarubicin; D003630:Daunorubicin