title: Continuous infusion chemotherapy with epirubicin and vincristine in relapsed and refractory acute leukemia.
abstract: Twenty-three patients admitted for treatment of refractory or relapsed acute leukemias (12 acute nonlymphocytic leukemias, 4 acute lymphocytic leukemias, 1 acute undifferentiated leukemia, 6 chronic myeloid leukemias in blast crisis) received a regimen employing a 4-day continuous intravenous infusion of epirubicin followed by a 4-day continuous infusion of vincristine. The remission rate (complete and partial) was 52%. This treatment was associated with minimal extrahematologic toxicity, particularly cardiac and gastrointestinal toxicity. This method of administration should be considered a reasonable therapeutic approach to pretreated acute leukemia patients, particularly in elderly patients wishing to avoid chemotherapy-related side effects.
authors.affiliation: Hematology Service, University of Bari Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liso
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capalbo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dione
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D014750:Vincristine