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Low dose of homoharringtonine and cytarabine combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor priming on the outcome of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

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Abstract

Background

To explore the effect of low dose of homoharringtonine (HHT) and cytarabine (Ara-c) combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) priming (HAG regimen) on relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods

Sixty-seven patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were enrolled. All the patients were treated with HAG regimen (HHT 1.5 mg/m2/day, 1–14d; Ara-C 7.5 mg/m2/12 h, 1–14d; G-CSF 150 μg/m2/day, according to the counting of the peripheral white blood cells). Blood cell counting, liver, kidney function, ECG and myocardial enzymes were monitored regularly.

Results

Thirty-five of 67 (52.2%) patients achieved complete remission (CR) and 8/67 (11.9%) partial remission (PR). The overall response rate was 64.1%. Myelosuppression was the most frequently observed adverse effect. Sixty of 67 (89.5%) patients suffered from grade 1–4 adverse effects of hematologic toxicity (according to World Health Organization criteria) and non-hematologic toxicity was mild.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HAG regimen was effective and tolerated well in refractory or relapsed AML. As a promising regimen for relapse or refractory AML, further observations should be made.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an JiaoTong University, Xiwu Road 157#, 710004,, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China

    Liu-Fang Gu, Wang-Gang Zhang, Fang-Xia Wang, Xing-Mei Cao, Yin-Xia Chen, Ai-Li He, Jie Liu & Xiao-Rong Ma

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  1. Liu-Fang Gu
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  2. Wang-Gang Zhang
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Correspondence to Wang-Gang Zhang.

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Gu, LF., Zhang, WG., Wang, FX. et al. Low dose of homoharringtonine and cytarabine combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor priming on the outcome of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 137, 997–1003 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-010-0947-z

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