Oral idarubicin as single-agent treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in poor-risk patients
Lowenthal, R.M.; Chesterman, C.N.; Griffiths, J.D.; Manoharan, A.; Harris, M.G.; Herrmann, R.P.; Rooney, K.F.; Rozenberg, M.C.; Salem, H.H.; Wolf, M.M.
Cancer Treatment Reports 71(12): 1279-1281
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-5960 PMID: 3480044 Document Number: 289433
Oral idarubicin was given as single-agent treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in 18 poor-risk patients. They comprised nine previously untreated elderly patients, age range 69-86, and nine relapsed pretreated patients, age range 41-76. Overall, two patients achieved complete remission (including one with preceding refractory anemia with excess of blasts) and seven achieved partial responses. Dose-limiting toxic effects were diarrhea and sepsis. In this limited study, oral idarubicin at a dose of 20-25 mg/m2/day X 3 was a well-tolerated drug with potent antileukemic effects. The oral formulation deserves more widespread evaluation.