[Initial results with a epipodophyllotoxin derivative VP 16-213 in the treatment of acute leukemia]

Ten acute leukemia patients were treated with the new cytostatic agent VP 16-213. Almost all these patients had received previous therapy. One complete and two partial remissions were achieved, while one patient showed brief clinical improvement. VP 16-213 appears to be effective not only in acute monocytic leukemia, as therapeutic effects could also be observed in other forms of acute leukemia. VP 16-213 should further be tested in therapy of refractory acute leukemia patients as a drug of second choice. The relatively mild toxic effect of this substance and its special mode of action would appear to make it highly suitable for incorporation into combination chemotherapy regimes and further clinical trials.