CHEMOTHERAPY FOR ADULT ACUTE NONLYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA WITH DAUNORUBICIN AND CYTOSINE-ARABINOSIDE

Abstract

Fourteen of 21 adult patients (67%) with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia achieved a complete remission (CR) after receiving combination chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). Eight of the 14 CR developed after a single course and 4 of 14 after 2 courses of induction therapy making initial hospitalization relatively brief (median, 38 days). Four of 5 patients 60 yr old achieved CR. Induction therapy was repeated monthly up to the dosage limits imposed by daunorubicin cardiotoxicity in an attempt to lengthen subsequent remission duration. The median duration of CR was 12 mo. which compared favorably with previously reported series. In this series, treatment with 3 days of daunorubicin and 7 days of ara-C was a highly effective induction regimen for patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia regardless of age. The improved duration of CR may be a manifestation of the extent of initial leukemic cell-kill in successful induction and consolidation therapy rather than an effect of maintenance therapy cycles.