title: Salvage chemotherapy containing moderate-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone for relapsed and resistant acute myeloid leukaemia.
abstract: A total of 29 evaluable patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) either in relapse or resistant to initial induction daunorubicin-containing chemotherapy were given a salvage regimen consisting of moderate-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone. There were 8 (28%) complete responders (CRs), 4 (14%) partial responders (PRs), and 17 (52%) nonresponders. The duration of CRs was 2+, 2+, 3+, 3, 4+, 4, 5 and 6 months respectively. Two of the eight CR patients were refractory to initial daunorubicin-containing induction therapy and another two had achieved a previous CR lasting less than 6 months. Four of the eight CR patients had received an amsacrine-containing salvage regimen (ATA) prior to administration of the present moderate-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone regimen; this indicates the lack of absolute clinical cross-resistance between the present combination and the daunorubicin- or amsacrine-containing regimens. However, the duration of CRs achieved by these patients remains very short and should, if possible, be followed by allogeneic or autologous bone marrow transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Todd
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D008942:Mitoxantrone