title: Treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome with amifostine.
abstract: The efficacy and toxicity of amifostine (300 mg/m(2) three times a week for three consecutive weeks for a maximum of six courses) was evaluated in 12 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes. Dose escalation up to 400 mg/m(2) was allowed to patients who failed to respond. Hemoglobin concentration was increased > or = 1.5 g/dl in two (18%) of the 11 anemic patients. These two patients obtained transfusion independence for 20 weeks. Reticulocyte counts and ANC increased > or = 50% of baseline in four (44%) of the nine patients with reticulocytopenia and in three (25%) of the 12 neutropenic patients. Platelet count increased in three (50%) of the six patients with thrombocytopenia. Progenitor growth of CFU-GMs and BFU-Es improved in 8/12 patients. No major side effects were observed. In conclusion amifostine is well tolerated and can promote the growth of primitive hematopoietic progenitors and ameliorate the cytopenias in MDS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Hematology, 'G. Gennimatas' General Hospital, Athens, Greece. agalanop@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galanopoulos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kritikou-Griva
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gligori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michalis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Grigoraki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marinakis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kakkas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tasiopoulou
authors.forename: N I
authors.initials: NI
authors.lastname: Anagnostopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004999:Amifostine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004999:Amifostine