[Adriamycin and Ara-C infusions in the treatment of refractory leukemia]

We have treated two pediatric patients with refractory ANLL and four with relapsed high-risk ALL with Adriamycin continuous Ara-C i.v. Four out of six patients were able to enter complete remission after first or second course of the treatment. All of them developed severe bone marrow suppression, and various degree of oral mucositis, liver dysfunction and gastrointestinal toxicity, and two patients died from side effects. Recently this combination chemotherapy is becoming a best regimen for the treatment of untreated ANLL. Although our cases are small in number, this combination therapy also seems to be effective for refractory ANLL and relapsed high-risk ALL. It is needless to say that we have to pay more attention when we use this regimen.