title: Low-dose arabinosyl cytosine in acute leukemia after a myelodysplastic syndrome and in elderly leukemia.
abstract: Low-dose arabinosyl cytosine (ARA-C) was tested in 15 patients with acute leukemia after a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and in six elderly patients with acute nonlymphoid leukemia (ANLL). The drug was given subcutaneously at 10 mg/m2, every 12 hr for 2 weeks, every 28 days. The overall response rate was 19% (one complete remission, three partial responses), and the median duration of response was 4 months. No particular features at diagnosis were predictive of response. Pancytopenia and marrow hypoplasia occurred after 44 (78%) of 56 courses of therapy and were more severe in nonresponders. Four patients died during the aplasia following ARA-C therapy. Subcutaneous low-dose ARA-C was of limited benefit and bore a noticeable hematologic toxicity.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011289:Preleukemia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine