High-dose anthracycline induction in adult acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Many anthracyclines seem to be essential components of chemotherapy in adult ALL patients. The results of different studies suggest that 1. anthracyclines increase the probability of CR 2. complete response is obtained earlier with the use of high-dose anthracyclines 3. the optimal timing for anthracycline administration is probably the very early phase of the disease, because an earlier CR is a favorable prognostic indicator in ALL 4. high-dose DNM may be beneficial: given at high dosage in a dose-intensive way it can reduce the occurrence of relapse. There is evidence from randomized and nonrandomized studies that anthracyclines increase the CR rates when added to other classic components of ALL therapy. The dose and dose intensity of DNM during induction may influence duration of CR and long-term prognosis. Although anthracyclines in induction are only part of a complex program of therapy for adult ALL, the dose and dose intensity of anthracyclines may become important components of the armamentarium against this devastating disease.
Department of Hematology, Verona University, Verona, Italy.
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Todeschini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic