title: Analysis of treatment failure in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia patients over fifty years of age. A Southwest Oncology Group study.
abstract: Fourteen participating centers registered 33 patients on a Southwest Oncology Group Study of adults with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Induction consisted of cytosine arabinoside 70 mg/m2 days 1-7 by continuous intravenous (i.v.) infusion, VP-16 50 mg/m2 i.v. over 1 hour days 1-3, and daunomycin 30 mg/m2 i.v. bolus days 1-3. Twenty-five patients (median age 69 years) were evaluable for response. Eleven (44%) achieved a remission marrow but only 8 fulfilled both blood and marrow criteria for complete remission. Of the 11 patients with a remission marrow, there were no patients over 70 years of age. Major coexisting disease data were evaluated. Only 5 patients had no major coexisting disease and 4 of those 5 achieved a remission marrow. The study illustrates and underscores the following problems of remission induction in the elderly: (a) increased susceptibility to the stress of the induction period, with 6 patients (24%) dying before treatment day sixteen; (b) disease resistance to antileukemic therapy with persistent ANLL in 6 patients (24%), despite two induction courses; and (c) hematopoietic stem cell sensitivity in the elderly with marrow regeneration failure documented in 2 patients (8%) following induction. Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in the elderly has a poor prognosis, and novel therapeutic approaches are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808-4124.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kopecky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Head
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Grever
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shiaer
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lipschitz
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hynes
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Veith
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Gumbart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D005047:Etoposide; D003630:Daunorubicin