Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients with oral idarubicin as a single agent.
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.
Harousseau
J L
JL
Department of Hematology, Nantes, France.
Rigal-Huguet
F
F
Hurteloup
P
P
Guy
H
H
Milpied
N
N
Pris
J
J
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
D015255:Idarubicin