Attenuated high-dose cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of the elderly patient with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Pilot Study.
Seventeen elderly patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (EP-ANLL) were treated with cytarabine, either 1.5 g/m2 or 2.0 g/m2 q 12 h for 4 days [attenuated high-dose ARA-C (HDARAC)]. One complete and one partial response was seen in 15 evaluable cases. Toxicity, evaluated in all 17 patients, was severe, with 47% showing a variety of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group grade 3, 4, or 5 toxicities. Forty-one percent of all patients died within 33 days of initiating treatment. We conclude that attenuated HDARAC is ineffective in inducing remission and is very toxic in the EP-ANLL.
Kahn
S B
SB
Department of Neoplastic Diseases, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Ebrahim
K
K
Cassileth
P
P
Bennett
J M
JM
Knospe
W H
WH
O'Connell
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012074:Remission Induction
D003561:Cytarabine