title: In adult acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia extended maintenance chemotherapy has no benefit.
abstract: Fifty-two consecutive and previously untreated adults with nonlymphoblastic leukaemia underwent remission induction chemotherapy with a combination of the epipodophyllotoxin VP16-213, cytosine arabinoside, and doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Complete remission was achieved in 23 of the 52 patients (44%) by means of a single course of therapy in 20 individuals, two courses in two, and three courses in one; median duration of complete remission was 48 weeks. Failure to achieve remission status was due to primary drug resistance in 13 patients (25%), and adequate trial of therapy was not possible in 16 patients (31%) owing to their late referral and accounts for the low remission rate. Individuals achieving complete remission were randomly assigned to receive either 6 (n = 8) or 15 months (n = 13) of maintenance therapy; respective median survival was 95 and 78 weeks (P greater than 0.10). These data confirm previously reported results for complete remission induction with this three-drug combination and fail to show any difference between short (6 months) and long (15 months) maintenance chemotherapy.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011034:Podophyllotoxin