Combination of arabinosyl cytosine, methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone), 6-mercaptopurine and prednisone in the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia

Abstract

Thirty-seven patients ( 30 adults, 7 children) with acute myelocytic leukemia were treated with a combination of prednisone ( 40 mg/m 2/daily, p.o.), 6-mercaptopurine ( 90 mg/m 2/daily, p.o.), methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) ( 350 mg/m 2, 3 times a week, i.v.) and arabinosyl cytosine ( 30 mg/m 2, i.v., 3 times a week or daily). Eight adults and 5 children attained complete remission. Eleven of these patients relapsed after a median time of 5 months. Two patients: 1 adult and 1 child are still in remission after more than 24 months. Gastrointestinal and mucocutaneous toxic effects were relatively moderate, but 14 patients had bone marrow aplasia which was fatal to 3.