A Phase II Study Of Daunomycin And ARA-C, Both Given By Continous IV Infusion For Previously Untreated Non-M3 Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) In Patients Of Age 56 Or Older

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the efficacy of cytarabine and daunorubicin as induction chemotherapy in older patients with previously untreated non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia.
• Determine the frequency and severity of toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients receive induction chemotherapy comprising daunorubicin IV continuously over days 1-3 and cytarabine IV continuously over days 1-7. Patients may be treated with a second course of induction chemotherapy beginning on day 19 if remission is not achieved at that time. Patients also receive filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF) IV or subcutaneously daily beginning on day 15 and continuing until blood counts recover.

Patients who achieve remission after the first or second course of induction chemotherapy receive consolidation chemotherapy comprising daunorubicin IV continuously over days 1 and 2 and cytarabine IV continuously over days 1-5. Beginning no earlier than day 19, patients receive a second course of consolidation chemotherapy.