title: Prevention of blastic crisis in Ph1-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Fourteen untreated patients with Ph1-positive myeloid leukaemia received combination chemotherapy consisting of blocks of doxorubicin, vincristine, cytosine arabinoside and 6-thioguanine. Significant karyotypic conversion occurred in six patients, the percentage of Ph1-positive cells in the bone marrow falling by at least 50%. Maintenance therapy comprised vincristine, busulphan, hydroxyurea, 6-mercaptopurine and dibromannitol in rotation. Reinduction therapy was administered when Ph1 positivity reverted to 100%. Karyotypic reconversion was achieved in three of four patients. After induction, chromosome analysis of the bone marrow was performed every 3-6 months to detect the appearance of aneuploid clones, the intention being to intensify therapy at that stage.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D013866:Thioguanine