title: Treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia: influence of three induction regimens and maintenance with chemotherapy or BCG immunotherapy.
abstract: The effect of a synchronizing-recruiting drug schedule vs. myelotoxic therapy on remission rate and of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin on remission duration and survival of adults with acute myelogenous leukemia were studied in a prospective cooperative trial. After randomized remission induction with Arabinosyl Cytosine + vincristine + methotrexate + leucovorin (AVML), thioguanine + Ara-C + Daunorubin (TAD), or Daunorubicin + Ara-C (DA), complete remissions (CR) were consolidated with TAD or AVML. CRs were maintained with BCG vaccination (Tice strain) by the tine technique, or BCNU plus Ara-C (B/A), or no further therapy (NFT). Of 209 evaluable TAD patients, 105 (50%) achieved CR; of 187 DA, 97 (52%) achieved CR. AVML yielded only 15 CR among 59 patients (25%). The time to remission was significantly shorter with DA compared with TAD. Ninety-seven patients were randomized to maintenance therapy (35 B/A, 30 BCG, 32 NFT). There were no differences in remission duration (7, 8, 6 months) or survival (16, 22, 16 months, respectively). Manipulation of the cell cycle, as employed in this study, was not helpful. There may be a marginal effect of BCG, but our data fail to show a statistically significant benefit.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D013866:Thioguanine; D008727:Methotrexate; D003630:Daunorubicin