title: GM-CSF, ARA-C, VP-16 and idarubicin (GM-IVA), a short, and effective induction treatment for de novo AML, suitable for the elderly.
abstract: GM-IVA is a short and effective induction therapy of non M3 de novo AML including GM-CSF (300 mcg 12 hrs before starting therapy), Ara-C (250 mg/sqm c.i. x 3 days), VP16 (100 mg/sqm x 3 days) and idarubicin (12 mg/sqm x 3 days); it was followed by a fludarabine containing salvage protocol (FLANG). Patients <60 years of age achieving CR received 2 courses of FLANG and autologous or allogeneic BMT when possible. Patients >60 years of age in CR received a second course of GM-IVA. Twenty-one consecutive patients (mean age 64, range 29-85) entered the study. Three patients (14%) died during induction therapy. After one course of GM-IVA, CR was achieved in 12 patients (57%). Two further patients were salvaged with FLANG therapy so that the final CR rate was 14/21 (67%). In elderly patients the final CR rate (62%) is noteworthy, considering that 6 patients were >70 years of age and 3 were >80. All three patients >80 achieved CR (lasting 5 to 7 months). The median time of granulocyte and platelet recovery was 15 days. Our scheme was well tolerated. In the group of elderly patients 3 out of 14 died during induction (21%) and 4 life-threatening infections were observed (28%). The short duration of cytotoxic therapy and perhaps the use of G-CSF contributed to a reduction of the hospitalization period (median of 22 days), thus providing major savings on induction costs and allowing for better utilization of beds as well as significantly improving patients' quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Haematology, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pierri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clavio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beltrami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canepa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrasanta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballerini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quintino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Celesti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrara
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007621:Karyotyping; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D014740:Vidarabine; D015255:Idarubicin