Chronic granulocytic leukemia: cytogenetic conversion of the bone marrow
with cycle-specific chemotherapy
RV Smalley, J Vogel, CM Huguley and D Miller
Sixteen patients with Ph1-positive chronic granulocytic leukemic (CGL) were
entered on a pulsing chemotherapy program consisting of cytosine
arabinoside 100 mg/sq m/day X 5 and thioguanine 100 mq/sq m/day X 5 every
21 days in an attempt to convert the Ph1-positive marrow to a Ph1- negative
state and thereby achieve a complete remission. Twelve patients had an
adequate trail of drug treatment, and ten of these had adequate chromosome
examinations. There were two "conversions," one of which was maintained for
5+ mo, while the other was transient. The program was unacceptable,
however, to most patients due to intolerable nausea and vomiting. Thus a
prospective chemotherapeutic attempt to convert a Ph1-positive marrow
without splenectomy has induced a conversion in two of ten patients. Other
regimens which might induce less nausea and vomiting and a higher rate of
conversions should be sought in future attempts to alter the invariably
fatal outcome of CGL.
Volume 50,
Issue 1,
pp. 107-113,
07/01/1977
Copyright © 1977 by The American Society of Hematology
