[Results of treating acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia in adults (author's transl)]

Between July 1974 and December 1976 a total of 69 patients were treated for acute nonlymphoblastic leukaemia. The mean age was 42 years. Seven had been previously treated. Induction treatment with daunoblastin and cytarabine was given to 67 patients. It produced complete remission in 37 (55.2%) and partial remission in two. Twelve patients received a minimum of two courses of induction treatment without remission (definite treatment failures). Sixteen patients died during the first 30 days after onset of treatment. Treatment to maintain remission consisted of cytarabine and alternating 6-thioguanine, cyclophosphamide, lomustin and daunoblastin. Treatment could be continued as planned in only a quarter of the patients, because of serious side effects in the others. One year after conclusion of the study (31. 12.77) the median remission period was 42, median survival time for all patients 33 weeks (73.5 weeks for those responding and 8 weeks for those not responding to treatment). Age, fever, and chromosomal status of bone-marrow cells had an effect on prognosis.