title: Salvage therapy with low-dose cytosine arabinoside in refractory or relapsed acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia: a report on 25 patients.
abstract: Thirteen patients with de novo acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL) refractory to standard chemotherapy for remission induction and 12 patients with ANLL in relapse were treated with low-dose cytosine arabinoside (LD ara-C) 10 mg/m2 subcutaneously every 12 hours for 21 days. Five of 13 patients (38%) and 6 of 12 patients (50%), respectively, obtained a complete remission (CR). Of these, 7 patients subsequently relapsed after 2-76 months, while 4 patients remain in CR after 7-131 months. Compared to standard intensive regimens treatment with LD ara-C was rather non-toxic, requiring platelet transfusions and antibiotics in only 6 and 13 cases, respectively. Three patients (12%) died during induction therapy with LD ara-C; 2 had a cerebral haemorrhage and 1 developed anuria following a staphylococcal septicaemia. In conclusion, therapy with LD ara-C may be preferable to more intensive and toxic regimens in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory ANLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stentoft
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine