1970 Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 108-118
Results of treatment of 41 cases of acute leukemias with Daunomycin are reported. Deunomycin was given alone in 12 cases (10 adults and 2 children); 7 myelogenous, 1 monocytic, 3 lymphatic and 1 case with blastic phase of CML. It was administered concomitantly with oral 6MP 2.5mg/kg and corticosteroid 0.5 mg/kg of prednisolone in 29 cases (27 adults and 2 children); 15 myelogenous, 7 monocytic, 3 lymphatic and 4 cases with blastic phase of CML. A course of Daunomycin administration consisted of intravenous injection of the agent, 0.8 mg/kg, daily for 4 days and the course was repeated as soon as clinically permitted.
A complete remission was obtained in 3 of 12 cases treated with Daunonmycin alone (1 myelogenous, 1 monocytic and 1 lymphatic) and in 17 of 29 cases (58.6%) treated with Daunomycin, 6MP and corticosteroid (7 myelogenous, 5 monocytic, 2 lymphatic and 3 cases with blastic phase of CML).
It is remarkable that the combination chemotherapy induced complete remission in 5 of 7 cases with monocytic leukemia and in 3 of 4 cases with blastic phase of CML.
Myelosuppression was the severest side effect of Daunomycin. However, it relatively spared thrombocytopoiesis. Other side effects include alopecia, skin eruption, nausea and palpitation in a small number of patients. The degree of these toxic effects was such that did not preclude clinical usage of the agent.
Clinically there was no cross-resistance with other antileukemic drugs. Resistance to Daunomycin, however, appears rather easily acquired.
The impression was that severely hypoplastic state of bone narrow is prerequisite for induction of a complete remission in cases treated with the combination chemotherapy.
