title: Idarubicin in combination with etoposide and cytarabine in adult untreated acute non lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Thirty-one unselected patients with untreated acute non lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) ranging in age from 15 to 76 years received two courses of a new high-dose induction regimen consisting of idarubicin, etoposide and cytarabine. Patients who entered complete remission (CR) were then allocated to post-remission intensification (PRI). Patients under 40 years of age with a HLA-compatible donor were given bone marrow transplantation (BMT); those without an HLA identical donor received either autologous BMT (ABMT) or no subsequent therapy. Twenty-five out of 31 patients (80.6%) achieved CR (93.3% in young and 68.7% in old patients) and 14 (56%) after the first cycle. Six patients (five out six greater than 40 years) died of cerebral hemorrhage and/or infection during the induction phase and four additional patients (three elderly) died on the PRI for the same cause without recurrent disease. Eleven out 25 patients are disease-free survivors 2-34 months (median 10 months) after achievement of CR. In conclusion, this intensive chemotherapy regimen is effective both in young and older patients but the post-remission intensification is too aggressive in elderly patients.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003561:Cytarabine; D005047:Etoposide; D015255:Idarubicin; D003630:Daunorubicin