title: Low-dose ara-C therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia in elderly patients.
abstract: Forty-four evaluable patients with untreated acute myelogenous leukemia received twice-daily subcutaneous injections of low-dose ara-C (10 mg/m2) for less than or equal to 42 days. The median age was 72 years (range 53-87); 42 of 44 patients were greater than or equal to age 60. Ten patients (23%) had complete responses with a median duration of 9.9 months. Median survival was 3 months (range 0.6-31.2+) for all patients, and 19.5 (range 7.9-31.2+) for patients who attained complete responses. Cytoreduction occurred slowly with low-dose ara-C and five of ten patients who achieved complete remission did not develop marrow aplasia. Toxicity was predominantly related to infections associated with granulocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was limited. Low-dose ara-C as used in this trial results in a complete response rate and a duration of response similar to those achieved with other treatments in elderly patients, but with reduced toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bearden
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lyerly
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000139:chemically induced; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine