Abstract
S phase partial synchronization by N4-behenoyl-1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (BH-AC) was attempted in 13 adults with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. The patients whose marrow leukemic blasts were normo- or hypocelluar and showed labeling indices (LI) of 3∼10% as determined by our rapid 3H-TdR autoradiography were selected and administrated BH-AC 100mg/day by 3-hour drip intravenous infusion for 2 or 4 days. LI rose significantly (P<0.01) from 5.3±1.7% to 9.9±3.5% in 2 days treatment group and from 5.0±2.2% to 10.6±6.7% in 4 days treatment group (P<0.05). Slight nausea but not pain of salivary gland and megaloblastic change in marrow were observed during administration of BH-AC. The mechanism of synchronization by BH-AC was considered S phase prolongation by the inhibition of DNA synthesis.
Remission induction therapy by DCMP or DBMP at a proper time carefully determined by LI of marrow blasts according to our new protocol gave complete remission rate of 85.7%, i.e., 6 of the 7 firstly treated cases and that of 57.1%, i.e., 4 of the 7 reccurent cases.
From our above-mentioned results, S phase partial synchronization by BH-AC by the use of our rapid autoradiography is considered to be a useful tool for treatment of leukemia.
