Current status of mitoxantrone combination chemotherapy programs: a personal view

Mitoxantrone is effective therapy in acute leukemia. As a single agent it is well tolerated and at doses of 50-60 mg/m(2) induces remission in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and blastic transformation of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Its toxicity profile suggested that it could be combined readily with other agents, and over the last five years effective combinations incorporating mitoxantrone have been developed. Future trials will be designed to take advantage of our ability to deliver high doses of mitoxantrone without appreciable toxicity and to combine it with the more effective doses of cytarabine.