title: Early intensification and short-term maintenance chemotherapy does not prolong survival in acute myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: Forty-one previously untreated patients with a diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) were entered on a study using early intensification followed by a short-term maintenance chemotherapy. Induction and early intensification consisted of three to four cycles of doxorubicin, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) and prednisone (ADOAP) in escalating dosages. Maintenance therapy used three cycles of Ara-C thioguanine (AT), followed by three cycles of cyclophosphamide and rubidazone with vincristine and prednisone (CROP). Median total duration of therapy was 9 months. The overall complete remission (CR) rate was 73%. Tolerance to chemotherapy and dose escalation were better for patients who received their induction and early intensification in the protected environment. The overall median survival was 75 weeks. Compared to a historical control group treated with long-term maintenance chemotherapy, patients achieving CR on the current study had similar median remission (52 versus 65 weeks; P = 0.3) and survival durations (94 versus 98 weeks). This regimen using early intensification and short-term maintenance chemotherapy did not improve the overall prognosis of this AML population.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: McCredie
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Bodey
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Freireich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C002205:zorubicin; D011241:Prednisone; D003630:Daunorubicin