title: A phase II trial of continuous-infusion 6-mercaptopurine for childhood leukemia.
abstract: A phase II pediatric trial of a continuous intravenous infusion of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) in patients with refractory leukemia was performed. The dosing schedule, 50 mg m-2 h-1 for 48 h, was based on the results of a previous phase I trial of this approach. Among the 40 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), all of whom had received prior therapy with oral 6MP, 1 complete and 1 partial response were achieved. No response was observed in 17 patients with refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Reversible hepatotoxicity, the primary dose-limiting toxicity, was observed in approximately 50% of cases. Mucositis was encountered infrequently and was usually not severe. 6MP given on the present continuous intravenous infusion schedule overcomes the limited and variable bioavailability of oral 6MP but shows limited activity as induction agent in children with recurrent ALL.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimm
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ragab
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balis
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kamen
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vietti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Poplack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015122:Mercaptopurine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015122:Mercaptopurine