title: Clofarabine in pediatric acute leukemia: current findings and issues.
abstract: Clofarabine is a second-generation purine nucleoside analog and has significant anti-leukemic activity as a single agent. It is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Combinations of clofarabine with purine nucleoside analogs or DNA-damaging agents have been investigated utilizing synergistic effects and now tested in a number of studies including a frontline study. In this article, we review the development of clofarabine, rationale and history of combination regimens, and their potential roles and toxicities in the treatment of pediatric ALL that are important to treating clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois 60614-3394, USA. nhijiya@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Nobuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hijiya
authors.forename: Elly
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Arceci
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001087:Arabinonucleosides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077866:Clofarabine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D001087:Arabinonucleosides; D003561:Cytarabine; D005047:Etoposide; D000077866:Clofarabine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide