High-dose cytosine arabinoside and m-AMSA is effective therapy in relapsed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract

High-dose cytosine arabinoside (HDARAC) and 4''-(9-acridinylamino) methane sulfon-m-anisidine (m-AMSA) was administered as induction therapy to 40 patients with relapsed or refractory acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) with the following results: 28 patients (70%) achieved complete remission, 1 patient achieved a partial remission; 5 patients died with hypoplastic bone marrows containing < 5% blasts; 4 patients died with hypoplastic marrowing containing > 5% blasts; and 3 patients failed to achieve marrow aplasia and died without significant cytoreduction in percentage of blasts. Consolidation therapy was not used and maintenance therapy was given to < 10% (3 patients) of remission patients. The median duration of remission for all patients was 6.0 mo. and the median time for the complete remission patients exceeded 8 mo. This regimen has acceptable toxicity and the results are equivalent to those abtained from conventional induction therapy of de novo ANLL patients.