title: Mitoxantrone and continuous infusion of cytosine arabinoside in refractory and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Twenty adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) received a regimen employing two courses of mitoxantrone 12 mg/m2 by rapid intravenous infusion on days 1, 2 and 3 and cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) 200 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion on days 1-7. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 10 of 20 (50%) patients (3 refractory and 7 relapsed). Median duration of CR was 5 months (range 2-9). The treatment was associated with minimal extrahematologic toxicity, with no cardiac toxicity. Our results are nearly in line with therapeutic responses obtained with regimens employing megadose therapy (HD ARA-C). Because of acceptable toxicity, mitoxantrone plus continuous infusion of a standard dose of ARA-C could be considered for relapsed of refractory ALL patients eligible for an intensive therapeutic approach (bone marrow transplantation) after a second CR.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Service, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacobazzi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Iaculli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dione
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pansini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D008942:Mitoxantrone