title: Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients with oral idarubicin as a single agent.
abstract: Idarubicin (IDR) is a new anthracycline that can be administered orally. Oral IDR was given at a dose of 30 mg/m2 daily for 3 d in 20 patients aged 65 to 79 yr with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML). 5 patients whose marrow remained blastic at d 14 received a second course. 8 patients achieved complete remission (6 after one single course). There were: 1 early death, 4 deaths in aplasia, 7 failures. The hematologic toxicity was high. All but 1 patient had to stay in hospital and the duration of neutropenia was 12 to 34 d (median 19). Oral IDR is an effective therapy for AML in elderly patients but the total dose of 90 mg/m2 is too aggressive to be administered safely outside the hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rigal-Huguet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hurteloup
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milpied
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pris
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015255:Idarubicin