Double intensification with amsacrine/high dose ara-C and high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation produces durable remissions in acute myelogenous leukemia.
Eighteen adult patients under 55 years of age with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who entered remission with induction chemotherapy (AMSA-OAP) received two remission intensification cycles. The first intensification used amsacrine and high dose ara-C (AMSA-HDAC), and the second intensification utilized high dose cyclophosphamide, BCNU and VP-16 (CBV) plus unpurged autologous bone marrow transplantation. This double intensified program features two highly active, non-cross-resistant intensification regimens. We observed a 56% long-term disease free survival rate in this group of patients followed for a minimum time of 40 months, with very tolerable toxicity and no transplantation-related deaths. The bone marrow collected after AMSA-HDAC probably contained very low numbers of leukemic cell (in vivo purge). A multivariate logistic regression model may better define the patient population that benefits from this regimen. If these promising findings are confirmed with larger, randomized studies, this treatment strategy could be used in newly diagnosed patients with AML.
Department of Hematology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030.
J A
JA
Spinolo
K A
KA
Dicke
L J
LJ
Horwitz
S
S
Jagannath
A R
AR
Zander
M L
ML
Auber
G
G
Spitzer
D000328:Adult; D000677:Amsacrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D015996:Survival Rate; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000677:Amsacrine; D003561:Cytarabine; D001761:Bleomycin; D002945:Cisplatin; D014751:Vindesine