High-dose cytosine arabinoside plus etoposide as initial treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia: a single centre study.
In a single centre, 52 newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) under the age of 56 years received induction chemotherapy commencing with high-dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and etoposide (Protocol BF11), followed by Ara-C, 6 thioguanine (6TG). A total of 67% of patients entered remission using these drugs. An anthracycline was added for those patients not in remission. The overall remission rate (CR) was 86.5% (45/52), with a minimum follow-up of 90 days. Patients are hospitalised for relatively short periods, and consequently require less blood product and antibiotic support. Patients in continuing first remission following induction with Ara-C and etoposide are similar in number to those in continuing first remission who initially received an anthracycline. This would imply that the efficiency of Ara-C and etoposide in inducing long-term disease-term survival is comparable with anthracycline-containing regimens. We conclude that high-dose Ara-C and etoposide used in the first induction cycle for treating AML have good antileukaemic effect with acceptable toxicity.
Parikh
P
P
Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Powles
R
R
Treleaven
J
J
Helenglass
G
G
Gore
M
M
Rose
M
M
Talbot
D
D
Milan
S
S
Smith
C
C
Pinkerton
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003561:Cytarabine; D005047:Etoposide