THE RESULT OF CHEMOTHERAPY WITH IDARUBICIN ARA-C IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH AML

Twenty-five AML cases which have been diagnosed in the Medical Oncology Clinic of our University during the years of 1994-1998 and that have not been subject to chemotherapy were chosen for our study. Induction chemotherapy included ARA-C 100 mg/m2 for the first 3 days. After complete remission consolidation was carried out for all cases. G-CSF was given to cases over age 50 24 hours after the end of chemotherapy. Eighteen out of 25 patients (72%) got into remission in an average of 30 days. Resistance to therapy was observed in 3 patients (12%) and 3 patients were lost in early stages due to sepsis. Absolute leucocyte number rose over 100 in 21±1.2 days in those who have taken G-CSF and in 24.5±0.72 days in those who have not. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Thrombocyte numbers rose over 100 000 in 28.6±3.7 days in those who have used G-CSF and in 31.5±2.2 days in those who have not. The difference was statistically not significant (P>0.05). Average disease-free life period was 14 months (3-36 months) in 19 patients with complete remission. In newly diagnosed 25 AML cases, with IDR/ARA-C combination, complete remission was accomplished in 76% of the patients. This proportion was found to be in accordance with the values reached in previous studies in which idarubicin was used.

Keywords: aml, idarubicin, ara-c