title: Daunorubicin-prednisone in the treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: In 1967 we first started to use daunorubicin and prednisone in the treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. In this review we describe our results with this regimen in 72 adults who were treated at the University of Minnesota between 1967 and 1977. Fifty-five patients were previously untreated and 17 had received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. Complete remissions were obtained in 21 (29%) of the 72 patients. The patients achieving complete remission were significantly younger and had lower pretreatment leukocyte and absolute myeloblast counts than the nonresponders. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia had a higher response rate (67%) and longer duration of complete remission compared to patients with the morphologic subtypes. Their median duration of complete remission was 29 months compared to 6 months for the other patients. The 21 patients who achieved complete remission survived longer (20 months) than those who failed to enter remission (2 months). Our experience suggests that daunorubicin is an effective drug in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, but should be combined with additional agents in the treatment of other types of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone; D003630:Daunorubicin