title: [Effect of low-dose Ara-C in the treatment of refractory, atypical leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome].
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of low-dose Ara-C in the treatment of refractory, atypical leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The subjects were 33 patients (19 acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), 9 MDS, 3 atypical leukemia and 2 unclassified leukemia). The age range was 19 to 84 years with a mean age of 51.5 years. We administered low-dose Ara-C (5-10 mg/m2/12 h s.c. or i.v.) for 13 to 35 days with a mean of 16.7 days. Complete remission and partial remission were obtained in 8 of 31 (25.8%) and in 9 of 31 (29.0%) respectively. A high response rate was found in M2 types showing a tendency for mature and refractory anemia with excess blasts in MDS according to the FAB classification. In our cases, severe pancytopenia in peripheral blood as a result of Ara-C was observed before normal hematopoiesis recurred. From the above results, the mechanism of low-dose Ara-C may induce remission by a cytotoxic rather than a differentiation effect. This treatment can be offered to patients with refractory, atypical leukemia and MDS with limited toxicity.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubaki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanamaru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kohsaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tagawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Masaoka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasunaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine