TREATMENT OF ACUTE-LEUKEMIA IN RELAPSE WITH 4'(9-ACRIDINYLAMINO) METHANESULFON-M-ANISIDIDE (ASMA) IN COMBINATION WITH CYTOSINE-ARABINOSIDE AND THIOGUANINE

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (3) , 317-321
Abstract
Thirty-seven patients with acute leukemia in relapse were treated with a 3-drug combination that included a 3- or 4-day course of AMSA [4''(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide] with total doses ranging from 600 mg/m2-740 mg/m2 i.v., cytosine arabinoside 25 mg/m2 i.v. followed by 200 mg/m2 by continuous infusion daily for 5 days, and thioguanine 100 mg/m2 per os every 12 h for 5 days. Eight of the 25 patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) achieved a complete remission and 3 a partial remission. None of the 5 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia achieved a response; there was 1 partial remission in the 7 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome or blastic CML [chronic myelocytic leukemia]. Reversible toxicity included nausea and vomiting (78%), alopecia (100%), pancytopenia (100%), mild stomatitis (63%) and hepatic dysfunction (24%). One patient developed seizures and cardiac arrhythmias. The activity of this combination in heavily treated patients with ANLL is comparable to that of the anthracycline-containing regimens; its use in previously untreated patients with ANLL sbould now be explored.