[Therapeutic effects of chemotherapeutic regimens containing pirarubicin on the treatment of high-risk or refractory and relapsed acute leukemia in adults].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of chemotherapeutic regimen containing pirarubicin (THP) on the treatment of high-risk or refractory and relapsed acute leukemia (AL) in adults.


METHODS
Forty patients with high-risk or refractory and relapsed AL, 26 males and 14 females, aged 33 (14-63) received treatment regimens with THP: TA regimen [THP + cytosine-arabinoside (Ara-C)] for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and TAOP regimen [THP + Ara-C + vincristine (VCR) + prednisone (Pred)] for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or biphenotype-AL. Forty matched patients received mitoxantron (MIT) + Ara-C for AML or MIT + Ara-C + VCR + Pred for ALL and biphenotype AL as controls. The therapeutic effects were observed.


RESULTS
The complete remission (CR) rate was 47.5% vs 45% (P > 0.05), partial response (PR) rate was 25% vs 20% (P > 0.05), and overall response (OR) rate was 72.5% vs 65% (P > 0.05) in the treatment group and control group. The continuous CR time was 528 days in the treatment group, significantly longer than in the control group (463 days, P < 0.05). Marrow suppression was more serious in the treatment group. The patients in the treatment group had higher incidence of infections (P < 0.05). The time with sustained recovery of platelet number was 13.9 days in the treatment group, significantly longer than in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Regimens with THP are more effective on treatment of high-risk or refractory and relapsed AL in adults, however, with more serious marrow suppression and higher incidence of infection.
Li
Qun-hua
QH
Department of Hematology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510080, China.
DU
Xin
X
Huang
Zi-lun
ZL
Luo
Cheng-wei
CW
Zhong
Li-ye
LY
Lin
Wei
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; C027260:pirarubicin