title: Low-dose cytosine arabinoside in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Eighteen previously untreated patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were treated with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) in low doses (10 mg/m2 every 12 hours) subcutaneously for 3 weeks. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in four patients (22.2%), and myelosuppression was observed in nearly all of them. Thrombocytopenia (20 X 10(3)/microliters) was pronounced in the third week of treatment and six patients (33.3%) needed platelet support. Contrary to earlier claims, our experience suggests that treatment with low-dose Ara-C is associated with significant cytopenias. Ara-C does not obviate the need for intensive supportive care and CR rates are no longer better. Low-dose Ara-C does not seem to be a choice in previously untreated ANLL patients who otherwise have a high probability of achieving a CR with standard multidrug chemotherapy protocols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India-Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kochupillai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dua
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine