title: [Differentiation therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome].
abstract: The ability of induction of differentiation of leukemia cells was first proved by cultured leukemia cells, and such ability has been also confirmed clinically as a result of observation of the dramatic effect of all-trans retinoic acid on acute promyelocytic leukemia and the usefulness of low-dose of ara-C therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. We studied differentiation induction of primary cultured bone marrow cells from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients by ara-C and VP16 with or without addition of G-CSF. We also studied clinical efficacy of differentiation therapy in 56 patients with MDS. Differentiation induction effects were observed in 3 of 14 patients treated with G-CSF in combination with low-dose of ara-C or low-dose of VP16. In addition, high-dose methylprednisolone therapy, GM-CSF and anabolic steroid therapy also showed similar effect on refractory anemia, even in a few patients. Since these results suggested the usefulness of differentiation therapy of MDS, it is earnestly hoped that more effective therapy, including a concomitant use of cytokine, might be established as soon as possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Showa University, School of Medicine.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D008775:Methylprednisolone