[Comparison of 2 regimens of polychemotherapy in refractory acute leukemia or in relapse].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effectiveness of two chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of relapsed and refractory acute leukemias.


METHODS
We randomly assigned 24 patients in two groups: the LARR1 group received induction with 4 days of etoposide and 4 days of high-dose ara-C; the LARR2 group received induction therapy with 4 days of etoposide plus 3 days of mitoxantrone. Consolidation was given using the same drugs at the same dosage. Maintenance therapy was the same for both groups alternating methotrexate, vincristine, L-asparaginase, carmustine, cyclophosphamide and Ara-C. Every 15 weeks both groups repeated consolidation according to their group. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was used in both groups.


RESULTS
Median survival for both groups was 5 months (range 1-17). Ten months after starting therapy three patients were disease free in the LARR1 group and two in the LARR2 group. There were no statistically significant differences in complete remission rate (p = 0.62), refractoriness (p = 0.58), deaths in induction (0.14) and other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results were comparable with those of others. The only advantage we found was the possibility of using the LARR1 treatment in patients who have reached or are about to reach cardiotoxic-anthracycline doses.
Borbolla-Escoboza
J R
JR
Servicio de Hematología, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, ISSSTE, México D.F. jrborbolla@infosel.net.mx
López-Hernández
M A
MA
González-Avante
M
M
DeDiego
J
J
Trueba-Christy
E
E
Anaya-Cuéllar
I
I
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005492:Folic Acid; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D001215:Asparaginase; D008727:Methotrexate
Comparación de dos regímenes de poliquimioterapia en leucemia aguda refractaria o en recaída.