title: FLAG is a useful regimen for poor prognosis adult myeloid leukaemias and myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: Forty patients, with mainly poor risk haematological malignancies, were given the new regimen FLAG, comprising fludarabine, arabinosyl cytosine and G-CSF. Twenty four patients had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), 8 patients myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and a further 8 patients had a variety of other haematological malignancies. The response rates for 19 relapsed and 4 refractory AML patients were 68% and 100% respectively and comparable to those attained using other regimens, although the numbers are small. Of 8 patients with MDS, 7 showed some response with 4 remaining in an improved disease status 5-12 months after FLAG. Follow-up has been too short thus far to provide any survival data in both patient groups. In general, the other smaller group of 8 patients (3 transformed chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), 3 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), 2 granulocytic sarcoma (GS) did poorly with response shown in 1 only. The regimen was well tolerated with 4 procedure-related neutropenic deaths. The neutropenic and thrombocytopenic periods are generally short when compared with those from current protocols. The overall modest toxicity may encourage combination with other anti-leukaemic agents and be of particular use in the aged or heavily pre-treated patients. Preliminary results may favour the setting up of controlled trials to properly evaluate the benefit of FLAG.
authors.affiliation: Edgeware Hospital, Middlesex, England, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goldstone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014740:Vidarabine