13-cis-retinoic acid in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia. A phase II pilot study of the eastern cooperative oncology group

✍ Scribed by Zachary B. Kramer; Laszlo Boros; Peter H. Wiernik; Janet Andersen; John M. Bennett; Peter Cassileth; Martin Oken

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 297 KB
• Volume: 67
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-543X
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19910315)67:6<1484::aid-cncr2820670603>3.0.co;2-3

✦ Synopsis

The management of acute myeloid leukemia in the elderly (65 years and older) is unsatisfactory because of poor patient tolerance of standard myeloablative chemotherapy. The authors conducted a Phase II study to evaluate the effectiveness and toxicity of 13-cis-retinoic acid (CRA) in the therapy of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients presenting with leukocyte counts less than 20,000/microliters were treated with CRA alone. Those with leukocyte counts of 20,000/microliters or greater were pretreated with hydroxyurea, followed by CRA. Twelve of 18 patients received at least 4 weeks of CRA and were thus considered evaluable for toxicity and response. No objective responses were observed. Cis-retinoic acid administration was well tolerated; only modest dermatologic, musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal toxicity was observed. Alternative therapeutic strategies should be investigated in this subpopulation of AML patients.