title: Central nervous system (CNS) leukemia: the role of high dose cytarabine (HDAra-C).
abstract: Knowing the good penetration of systemic HDara-C into the CNS, we treated with this approach overt meningeal leukemia, either isolated or with bone marrow (BM) disease, in 31 adults: 18 ALL, 4 ANLL, 1 lymphoid blast crisis of CGL (LBC-CGL), and 8 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment consisted of Ara-C, 3 g/m2 i.v. q 12 h, by 3 h infusion for 8 doses, followed by 4 doses at day 21. Complete remitters received consolidation with four monthly 4-dose courses of HDara-C. Additional multidrug consolidation and direct CNS therapy with intrathecal (i.t.) methotrexate (MTX) or Ara-C +/- cranial RT was administered to the 11 remitters last treated. Twenty of 31 patients (64%) achieved CR: 10/10 with isolated meningeal leukemia and 10/21 with concurrent CNS and BM disease. Of the remaining 11 patients, 8 had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearing with persistent BM disease. In all cases but one CNS symptoms resolved promptly. CR median duration was 6 months (range 2 to 20). The main toxicity was myelosuppression requiring intensive support. There was no neurologic toxicity. These results show that systemic HDara-C is highly effective in acute leukemias and NHL with CNS involvement, and suggest the utility of this regimen for sanctuary chemoprophylaxis in patients at high risk for CNS disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Istituto Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Alessandrino
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inverardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regazzi Bonora
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pagnucco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canevari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rondanelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D008727:Methotrexate