HD Ara-C Research Articles

Childhood myelodysplastic syndrome with clonal evolution progressing to acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (ANLL-M7)

We treated a 16-month-old girl with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; refractory anemia with excess of blasts subtype, RAEB by FAB classification) that developed into acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (ANLL-M7). The blast cells were positive for CD41 shown by flow cytometry and for platelet peroxidase by electron microscopy. Cytogenetically, five kinds of abnormal karyotypes were apparent at the initial visit and karyotypic progression (clonal evolution) was also evident. These karyotypes were considered to be derived from the putative original clone, 48,XX,+6,+21. The observed karyotypes were 50,XX, +4,add(4)(q31),+6,add(7)(p22),add(10)(q24),add(12)(q11),+20,+21,+mar[karyotype A];48,XX,add(4)(q31), +6,add(10)(q24),add(12)(q11),+21 [karyotype B];48,XX,+6,t(6;13)(p23;q14),+21 [karyotype C];51,XX,+X, t(6;13)(p23;q14),+der(6)t(6;13)(p23;q14),+21,+21,+mar[karyotype D]; and 49,XX,+X,−3,t(6;13)(p23;q14), +der(6)t(6;13)(p23;q14),−12,+21,+21,+mar[karyotype E]. It seems karyotypes B and C were derived from the putative clone; karyotype B developed into karyotype A; and karyotype C developed into karyotype E through karyotype D. After development of ANLL-M7, the cytogenetic study showed a karyotype with further karyotypic progression. The patient was treated with high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD AraC) followed by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Despite intensive care, she died 3 months after the transplantation.

High-dose cytosine arabinoside intensification for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in patients over 56 years of age.

One hundred and nine consecutive patients with de novo acute nonlymphocytic leukemia aged over 56 years were admitted with the intention of administering high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD Ara-C) intensification. After remission induction, the patients were consolidated with a course of daunorubicin (30 mg/m2/day, days 1-3) and Ara-C (100 mg/m2/day, days 1-7), followed by the intensification (Ara-C, 2 g/m2/12 h, days 1-4). The planned induction course was not started in 13 patients because of cardiac failure or unsatisfactory general status. Remission was achieved in 55% (53/96) of the patients. Twenty-seven patients (28%) had refractory disease, seven died early during induction therapy, five died of hemorrhage and three of infection during the hypoplasia that followed induction treatment. Thirty-nine patients started consolidation and 32 had the planned intensification. In these last patients the 3-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) probability was 29% (SE, 8%). No patient died as a consequence of intensification. The relapse rate of the intensified patients did not differ from the relapse rate of those patients who did not receive the planned intensification (p = 0.12). The only pretreatment variables significantly associated with a better LFS were younger age (p = 0.02) and a low WBC at diagnosis (p = 0.04). For the whole patient group, the 3-year survival probability was 15% (SE, 4%). This study shows that elderly patients can tolerate HD Ara-C. The patients completing consolidation-intensification have a currently acceptable LFS. To what extent HD Ara-C contributed to the length of the remissions remains unclear.

Mitoxantrone and Continuous Infusion of Cytosine Arabinoside in Refractory and Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Twenty adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) received a regimen employing two courses of mitoxantrone 12 mg/m2 by rapid intravenous infusion on days 1, 2 and 3 and cytosine arabinoside (ARA-C) 200 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion on days 1-7. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 10 of 20 (50%) patients (3 refractory and 7 relapsed). Median duration of CR was 5 months (range 2-9). The treatment was associated with minimal extrahematologic toxicity, with no cardiac toxicity. Our results are nearly in line with therapeutic responses obtained with regimens employing megadose therapy (HD ARA-C). Because of acceptable toxicity, mitoxantrone plus continuous infusion of a standard dose of ARA-C could be considered for relapsed of refractory ALL patients eligible for an intensive therapeutic approach (bone marrow transplantation) after a second CR.

High‐dose cytosine arabinoside and amsacrine or mitoxantrone in relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukaemia: a prospective randomized study

52 patients with refractory or relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) were randomly assigned to receive a combination of high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD Ara-C), 3 g/m2/d and either mitoxantrone (MTX), 7 mg/m2/d (5 mg if older than 60 yr) or m-amsacrine (AMSA), 120 mg/m2/d (90 mg if older than 60 yr) for 5 d. The overall response rate was 50% and did not differ significantly in the two groups (46% for AMSA and 56% for MTX, p = 0.415). The median survival was 11 months (8 months for AMSA and 12 months for MTX, p = 0.326) and the median duration of complete remission (CR) was 11 months for AMSA and 12 months for MTX (p = 0.643). In relapsed patients, the only significant predictive factor for obtaining a complete response was the length of first complete remission. Patients with a first CR shorter than 6 months had a CR rate of 36% while it was 65% if the first CR lasted more than 6 months (p = 0.03). Severe (WHO grade III-IV) gastro-intestinal toxicity was more frequent in the AMSA group (27% vs 4%, p = 0.021). Treatment-related death occurred in 4 patients in the AMSA group and in 2 patients in the MTX group (p = 0.097). We conclude that neither of these two treatment modalities was shown to be superior in terms of CR rate and survival, with a better tolerance for MTX.

High dose cytosine arabinoside in the initial treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

In a study conducted at St Bartholomew's Hospital between 1972 and 1982, using moderately intensive therapy (OPAL/HEAV'D), a low blast count at presentation (less than 10 x 10(9) 1(-1)) and common ALL (C-ALL) phenotype correlated favourably with duration of remission. Fifty-four patients (age range 15-57, median 32) subsequently received a modification of the previous treatment programme which included high-dose ara-C 2 g m-2 b.d. for 6 days as cycle 3 (OPAL + HD ARA-C). CR was achieved in 36/54 (67%) patients, response correlating favourably with younger age (15-30 years vs 31-57 years, P = 0.02). Three patients died in CR. Overall, there was no difference in survival or remission duration between patients who received high dose ara-C and those in the control group. However, in contrast to the early results, there was a reversal in the relevance of the prognostic factors with a trend in favour of high blast count (greater than 10 x 10(9) 1(-1)) and T-cell phenotype in terms of remission duration. Moreover, comparison of duration of remission for the previously defined prognostic groups according to therapy suggests that the prognosis of patients with 'high risk' disease (T, B, null ALL or high blast count) is improved with more intensive therapy. In contrast, those with 'low risk' disease (C-ALL and low blast count) have a better prognosis with less intensive therapy. These observations confirm those of others and allow for individualization of therapy on the basis of pre-treatment variables.

Cell kinetics after high dose cytosine arabinoside in patients with acute myelocytic leukemia

In this study 10 patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) each received a rapid intravenous injection of high dose cytosine arabinoside (HD Ara-C; 1 g/m2). Bone marrow aspirates were obtained before and after Ara-C administration to determine the percentage of cells in S-phase measured by flow cytometry. In 5 out of 10 cases synchronization of the leukemic cells in S-phase of the cell cycle was observed. However, the time of maximum synchronization turned out to be difficult to predict. Therefore, the strong correlation between percentage of cells in S-phase at diagnosis and the time of maximal accumulation of S-phase cells after Ara-C administration, as observed by others in childhood AML, could not be confirmed for adult AML patients. Although synchronization of AML cells after in vivo Ara-C administration could be demonstrated in at least half of the patients, the practical consequences are such that clinical application was hampered.

High-dose cytarabine treatment in acute leukemias and leukemic meningiosis: clinical aspects and pharmacokinetics

Clinical reports concerning the therapeutic effects of high dose Cytosine arabinoside (HD Ara-C) in meningeal leukemia are relatively rare. Pharmacokinetic studies, however, have indicated potentially effective concentrations of Ara-C in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during and after high-dose infusions of the drug given intravenously. In this report, the treatment results of HD Ara-C in 14 patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia are presented including those of 2 patients with meningeal leukemia. In these 2 patients as well as in 1 patient without central nervous system (CNS) leukemia, Ara-C and Ara-U concentrations in CSF and plasma were measured during a 6-day therapy with HD Ara-C (3 g/m2 q 12h 12 X). Ara-C and Ara-U levels were determined on Days 3 and 6 of therapy, each at the end of a 3-h i.v. infusion of the drug. In the 14 patients (8 with AML, 6 with ALL) treated, a total number of 17 treatment cycles were given for remission induction with doses of Ara-C ranging from 1-3 g/m2 q 12 h 6-12 X. A complete remission rate of 47% was achieved. The duration of remission ranged from 1 to 6 months. Of the 2 patients with CNS leukemia, 1 patient achieved complete remission both in CSF and in bone marrow, the other patient only in CSF. The mean concentration of Ara-C in CSF was 903 ng/ml with a ratio of 0.38 to that in plasma. Ara-C and Ara-U did not appear to accumulate in CSF or in plasma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The use of intermediate dose cytosine arabinoside (ID Ara-C) in the treatment of acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia in relapse

Summary. Cytosine arabinoside in a high dose of 3 g/m2 (HD Ara-C), alone or in combination with doxorubicin, has been advocated for the treatment of patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL) in relapse. Although a remission rate of 65% has been reported, the toxicity was severe and was possibly related to the high plasma concentrations of Ara-C (about 100 μm) reached during 1 h infusion. It has been postulated, however, that the intracellular enzymes which convert Ara-C into the active metabolite cytosine arabinoside triphosphate (Ara-CTP), are saturated at plasma concentrations of about 10 μM. We calculated that this level could be reached with an intermediate dose of 0.5 g/m2 Ara-C, given in a 1 h infusion (ID Ara-C). Subsequently 15 patients with ANLL (12 in relapse and three refractory to conventional therapy) were treated with ID Ara-C every 12 h for 6 d in combination with doxorubicin and vincristine. The overall remission rate was 80%. The median duration of bone marrow depression was 20 d (range 14–29 d) and side effects were comparable to conventional treatment. These preliminary data suggest that the therapeutic results of this ID Ara-C regimen are not inferior to comparable schedules with HD Ara-C as reported by others while toxicity is less severe.

The use of intermediate dose cytosine arabinoside (ID Ara-C) in the treatment of acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia in relapse.

Cytosine arabinoside in a high dose of 3 g/m2 (HD Ara-C), alone or in combination with doxorubicin, has been advocated for the treatment of patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL) in relapse. Although a remission rate of 65% has been reported, the toxicity was severe and was possibly related to the high plasma concentrations of Ara-C (about 100 microM) reached during 1 h infusion. It has been postulated, however, that the intracellular enzymes which convert Ara-C into the active metabolite cytosine arabinoside triphosphate (Ara-CTP), are saturated at plasma concentrations of about 10 microM. We calculated that this level could be reached with an intermediate dose of 0.5 g/m2 Ara-C, given in a 1 h infusion (ID Ara-C). Subsequently 15 patients with ANLL (12 in relapse and three refractory to conventional therapy) were treated with ID Ara-C every 12 h for 6 d in combination with doxorubicin and vincristine. The overall remission rate was 80%. The median duration of bone marrow depression was 20 d (range 14-29 d) and side effects were comparable to conventional treatment. These preliminary data suggest that the therapeutic results of this ID Ara-C regimen are not inferior to comparable schedules with HD Ara-C as reported by others while toxicity is less severe.

Clinical results and pharmacokinetics of high-dose cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA-C)

Four patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia and one malignant teratoma refractory to conventional chemotherapy were treated with high doses of cytosine arabinoside (HD ARA-C). They received up to 12 cycles of 1.8 to 3 g/m2 every 12 hours applied by 2-hour infusions. A total of 55 HD ARA-C infusions was performed. All leukemic patients responded. A complete clearance of blasts from the bone marrow was observed in two patients following 8-12 cycles of 3 g/m2. However, relapses occurred after three and seven weeks, in one case with resistance to HD ARA-C. The patient with malignant teratoma did not respond. No severe toxicity emerged even after repeated applications. Adverse reactions included moderate nausea and vomiting (4 patients), diarrhea (2 patients), hepatic dysfunction (1 patient), bone pain (1 patient), blurred vision (1 patient), conjunctivitis (1 patient), and exanthema with partial epidermiolysis (1 patient). Granulocytopenia occurring between 3-8 days after having started the therapy, subsided within 4-25 days. Plasma levels of ARA-C and the metabolite uracil arabinoside (ARA-U) were monitored. At steady state plasma concentrations of ARA-C were 32-97 microM (8-24 micrograms/ml). ARA-C disappeared from the plasma mono- or biphasic with a terminal half-life (t50%) of 7.8-12.6 minutes. The total clearance (Cl) of ARA-C varied between 1.7 and 2.9 liters/kg . h, and the distribution volume (Vss) between 0.44 and 0.86 liters/kg. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of ARA-C reached 10-15% of steady state concentrations in plasma.