[Results of high-dose cytarabine therapy. A review]

Of the many high-dose Ara-C regimens that have been proposed, the one published by Herzig [24] has been applied most widely. Every 12 h patients receive 3 g/m2 Ara-C for 75-90 minutes for a total of 12 doses. Using that regimen, 25% of patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and 60% of patients in untreated relapse achieve a complete remission (CR). With few exceptions, complete remissions are obtained after one cycle, median remission duration is between 4 and 6 months. Consolidation or maintenance therapy was not usually given. Currently, numerous modifications of that regimen are under investigation: combinations with other cytostatic agents like anthracyclins, m-AMSA, vincristine; the Capizzi-regimen and intermediate dose Ara-C. Preliminary results of those trials are promising but need to be confirmed by other groups. This survey does not comment on Ara-C toxicity and on Ara-C treatment of CNS leukemia, which are both reviewed in two further articles of this issue.