Abstract
The efficacy of AVC regimen on childhood acute non-lymphocytic leukemia was evaluated. Induction chemotherapy consisted of Ara-C (160mg/m2) given in a continuous IV infusion over 7 consecutive days, combined with adriamycin (50mg/m2) and vincristine (1mg/m2). After 1 course of consolidation therapy intensification therapies were repeated every 2 months for 3 years and every 3 months for 1 year. Intensification therapies were modified AVC regimen for the first 2 years and a combination of intermediate dose (500mg/m2) Ara-C (every 12 hours for 4 days) and 2 doses of VP-16-213 (150mg/m2) for 2 years thereafter.
A complete remission was achieved in 4 of 5 patients, after 1 course of induction therapy by 3 patients and after 2 courses by 1 patient. The remission durations of these 4 patients have ranged from 9 to 27 months. None has relapsed. Toxicities of this regimen included bone marrow suppression, vomiting, fever, exnthem and probable infection. However, this regimen seemed to be tolerable for most patients.
Although a longitudinal trial with a large number of patients is needed to draw a definitive conclusion, our study indicated that this regimen could be an excellent therapeutic strategy.
