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Correlation Therapy-Cytogenetics

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin induction therapy for adult patients with de novo non M3 acute myelogenous leukemia: impact of cytogenetics on achieving a complete remission

Leukemia volume 14, pages 1191–1196 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Cytogenetic abnormalities are used to define prognostic subgroups of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with respect to achieving complete remission (CR) and remaining disease free. These prognostic groups for obtaining CR were based on an induction regimen mainly using standard dose cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) + daunorubicin (DNR). We have reviewed our experience with 122 adult patients with de novo non-M3 AML who were treated with high-dose (HD) Ara-C 3 g/m2 given over 3 h every 12 h for a total of eight doses followed by DNR 60 mg/m2 daily for 2 days. CR was obtained in 80% while 16% had refractory disease and 4% died of sepsis during hypoplasia. CR rate for favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetic groups were 87%, 79% and 62%, respectively (P = 0.32). High white blood cell count, age, FAB subtype and LDH levels did not adversely affect CR rate. Eighty-five percent of patients achieved CR with one course of treatment and 87% of complete responders were able to receive post remission therapy. High-dose Ara-C/DNR appears to offer an excellent chance of achieving remission for patients with AML including those with poor risk cytogenetics, without an increase in early toxic deaths.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported in part by grants CA 30206 and CA 33572 from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS NIH, Bethesda, MD). We are grateful to Diana Garcia for assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. We would also like to thank Annette Brown and Trudy Trimmer for their assistance in data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    AS Stein, MR O'Donnell, A Nademanee, GM Schmidt, PM Parker, DS Snyder, EP Smith, G Somlo, KA Margolin & SJ Forman

  2. Department of Cytogenetics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    ML Slovak

  3. Department of Biostatistics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    A Dagis & J Niland

  4. Division of Pathology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    D Arber

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Stein, A., O'Donnell, M., Slovak, M. et al. High-dose cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin induction therapy for adult patients with de novo non M3 acute myelogenous leukemia: impact of cytogenetics on achieving a complete remission. Leukemia 14, 1191–1196 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2401839

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