title: Twice daily fludarabine/Ara-C associated to idarubicin, G-CSF and ATRA is an effective salvage regimen in non-promyelocytic acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Preclinical data suggest that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) synergizing with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Fludarabine 15 mg/m(2) is the minimum dose able to optimize intensification with fludarabine-arabinosylcytosine regimen. In this study 52 patients with relapsed/refractory AML obtained a complete remission (CR) rate of 69.2% after FLAIRG regimen (Fludarabine and arabinosylcytosine twice daily, idarubicin, G-CSF, ATRA). This schedule resulted effective and tolerable enabling 53% of the responding patients to receive transplant procedure. FLAIRG regimen could be proposed as a "bridge" to transplant treatment in this poor risk setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Hematology, Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, Milano, Italy. marco.montillo@ospedaleniguarda.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montillo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cafro
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nosari
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nichelatti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marbello
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D015255:Idarubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D014212:Tretinoin; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D015255:Idarubicin