Abstract
Twenty-six patients with acute leukemia in relapse were treated with mitoxantrone (dihydroxyanthracenedione dihydrochloride). The drug was given as a rapid i.v. infusion for 5 days, and doses were escalated from 8 mg/sq m daily for 5 days to 20 mg/sq m daily for 5 days. Five of 12 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were induced into complete remission; one patient was induced into complete remission twice. The marrow response lasted from 3 to 50+ weeks. Among 12 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, there was one complete and one partial remission, with response duration lasting 8 and 2 weeks. One patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic crisis also had a partial remission lasting 17 weeks. Remissions occurred at doses ranging from 8 to 14 mg/sq m daily for 5 days. All responders had been treated previously with anthracyclines. Drug-induced side effects included dose-limiting oral mucositis, sporadic nausea and vomiting, and transient elevations of the hepatic enzymes. Approximately one-third of the patients had septic complications during the myelosuppressive phase following treatment. We believe that mitoxantrone has definite utility in the treatment of acute leukemia in relapse.
Supported in part by Contract N01-CM 97275 and Grant CA-15936 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; by the United Leukemia Fund, Inc.; and by the T. J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia Research.
