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Evaluation of cyclocytidine in children with advanced acute leukemia and solid tumors
Insights
Cyclocytidine, a slow-release chemotherapy, showed limited efficacy in children with advanced leukemia and solid tumors. A dose of 600 ng/m2/day for 10 days was well-tolerated in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cyclocytidine is an investigational slow-release formulation of cytosine arabinoside.
- Cytosine arabinoside is a chemotherapy agent used in treating acute leukemias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of cyclocytidine in children with advanced acute leukemia and solid tumors.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-nine children with advanced acute leukemia or solid tumors received cyclocytidine.
- Treatment involved a dose of 600 ng/m2/day for 10 consecutive days.
Main Results:
- One child with acute lymphocytic leukemia achieved complete remission after prior intrathecal cytosine arabinoside treatment.
- Eighteen of 31 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia/acute undifferentiated leukemia did not respond to initial treatment but received further courses.
- No responses were observed in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, neuroblastoma, or other solid tumors.
Conclusions:
- Cyclocytidine demonstrated limited efficacy in this pediatric cohort.
- The drug was tolerated at the tested dose, suggesting potential for further investigation in specific contexts.
Abstract:
Cyclocytidine, a slow-release form of cytosine arabinoside, was evaluated in 69 children with advanced acute leukemia and solid tumors. One child with acute lymphocytic leukemia attained a complete remission. This child had received intrathecal cytosine arabinoside prior to the cyclocytidine. Eighteen of the 31 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia/acute undifferentiated leukemia who did not respond received two or more courses of the drug. There were no responses in 15 children with acute myelogenous leukemia, in 11 children with neuroblastoma, or in 11 children with various solid tumors of childhood. A dose of 600 ng/m2/day for 10 consecutive days is tolerated in children.