Acute leukemia occurring after radiotherapy and chemotherapy with a nitrosourea, PCNU.
Secondary acute leukemias can occur in patients who have been treated with chemotherapy. Several reports have shown that treatment with nitrosoureas can result in secondary leukemia, but this is the first report implicating the investigational drug PCNU as a cause. This case is unique because of the cytogenetic findings, the short latency period between the chemotherapy and the diagnosis of leukemia, and the successful treatment of the leukemia with high-dose cytarabine (ara-C).
Shepard
K V
KV
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois.
Larson
R
R
Le Beau
M M
MM
Leichman
L
L
Levin
B
B
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D003561:Cytarabine; C018627:1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2,6-dioxo-3-piperidinyl)-1-nitrosourea