title: A Pilot Study of Low Dose ARA-C, Interferon-Alpha and Cis-Retinoic Acid (AIR) Combination Therapy for Poor Risk Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
abstract: 20 adult patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who were considered not suitable for or resistant to conventional chemotherapy were entered into a pilot study of low dose ARA-C, Interferon-alpha and cis-retinoic acid (AIR) combination therapy. The overall response rate was 35%, with 4/20 patients achieving complete remission and 3/20 partial remission. There was also favourable duration of survival among the responders. AIR therapy was well tolerated and was given on an out-patient basis. Hospital admission was minimum during the period of treatment. Most patients however required out-patient support of blood and platelet transfusion. These results indicate that AIR therapy may be beneficial in a selected group of poor risk patients with AML. Further evaluation is needed to identify parameters predictive of response.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Haematology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Haematology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.affiliation: a Department of Haematology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Baglin
keywords: AML poor risk; cis-retinoic acid; differentiating agents; interferon-alpha