[Superhigh doses of dexamethasone in treatment of refractory forms of acute lymphoblast leukemia of adults].
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of high-dose dexamethasone efficacy in combination with standard drugs (adriablastin, vincristin, alpha-asparaginase) in patients with refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


METHODS
A pilot multicenter trial with participation of hematological departments of Hematological Research Center (Moscow), municipal hospital N 1 (Krasnoyarsk), municipal hospital N 8 (Yaroslavl), Research Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (Kirov) included 34 patients (10 patients with late recurrences, 24--with primary resistant forms, early and secondary recurrences).


RESULTS
In patients with late ALL recurrences a complete remission (CR) was achieved in 70% cases, the median being 10 months. In patients with primary resistant ALL, early and secondary recurrences CR reached 37.5%, the median was 14 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The program HiDexa is highly effective: overall complete remission rate reached 47%, median of complete remission duration was 10 months. Dexamethasone in high doses must be used only intravenously.
Parovichnikova
E N
EN
Savchenko
V G
VG
Isaev
V G
VG
Sokolov
A N
AN
Moskov
V I
VI
Kliasova
G A
GA
Gal'tseva
I V
IV
Ustinova
E N
EN
Gribanova
E O
EO
Lapin
V A
VA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012074:Remission Induction
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003907:Dexamethasone