Mitoxantrone and etoposide: an effective regimen for refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia

23 adult patients with refractory or relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) received salvage chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and etoposide. The regimen consisted of mitoxantrone, 10 mg/m2/d by 30-min infusion, and etoposide 100 mg/m2/d by 30-min infusion, given 12 h apart for 5 consecutive d. Of 23 patients treated, 13 met the criteria for highly refractory disease (6 primary resistant; 4 with early relapse during maintenance; 3 relapsed and refractory to reinduction). 10 patients had relapsed off-therapy more than 6 months after achieving first CR. Overall, 14 patients (61%) achieved a complete remission (CR): 6/13 (46%) with refractory AML, and 8/10 (80%) with relapsed AML. 2 patients had a partial remission, 2 died in aplasia, and 5 were nonresponders. In responding patients, the median time for recovery of granulocyte count was 27 d. The most important nonhematologic side effect was oral mucositis, which was severe in 35% of cases. No signs of cardiac toxicity were observed. The median CR duration was 5 months (range, 2 to 12+ months). The combination of mitoxantrone and etoposide appears a highly effective and relatively well tolerated salvage regimen for refractory and relapsed AML. Its incorporation into first-line induction and consolidation programs for newly diagnosed AML patients should be considered.     

VP-16-213 (etoposide): The mandrake root from Issyk-Kul

VP-16-213 (etoposide) is an orally and parenterally active antineoplastic agent synthesized from podophyllum extracts of a common North American plant, the May apple or mandrake. The drug delays and kills cells in the G₂ phase of the cell cycle and is active in a variety of animal tumors and leukemias. Major therapeutic activity for the drug has been found in small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, germ cell malignancies, acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Minor therapeutic activity of the drug occurs in non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma, pediatric neoplasms, hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer. Toxicity is primarily hematologic, with alopecia, nausea and vomiting occurring less frequently.     

Low dose continuous infusion therapy with etoposide (VP-16) and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) for a patient with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia

A 36-year-old man with acute myelogenous leukemia, refractory to the combination chemotherapy, developed fungal infection and acute respiratory distress. Simultaneously, rapid proliferation of leukemic cells was observed in the blood. He was given continuous drip infusion of etoposide (50 mg/day) and Ara-C (20 mg/day) for 18 days. The leukemic cells disappeared from both the blood and the marrow, and complete remission was achieved. There was no adverse effect related to this therapy. The low dose combination chemotherapy with etoposide and Ara-C is safe to be carried out, and could be effective for the patients with refractory leukemia.     

Long-term oral administration of etoposide (VP-16) for the patients with refractory or relapsed acute non-lymphocytic leukemia

We investigated the efficacy of oral etoposide (VP-16) for the patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) in relapse or refractory to the standard chemotherapy. Patients were given etoposide orally at the dose of 50 mg/body/day on consecutive days until the leukemic cells in the bone marrow were reduced less than 5%. The duration of administration of oral etoposide ranged from 16 days to 50 days (average 30 days). Seven patients were given very low dose cytosine arabinoside (5 approximately 10 mg X 2/day i.s.c.) combination with oral etoposide. Six patients (66.7%) out of 9 achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 patients had no response. Adverse effects such as abdominal discomfort and appetite loss were observed in 3 patients, but they were mild and tolerable. The duration of CR ranged from 2 to 24 (+) months, and the median CR duration is 7 months. The over all CR rate (66.7%) in this group of patients with refractory or relapsed ANLL were encouraging. Further studies, however, are needed to evaluate the efficacy of long term oral administration of etoposide for the patients with leukemia.     

Effective remission induction of refractory childhood acute nonlymphocytic leukemia by VP-16-213 plus azacitidine

Thirty-eight children and young adults with advanced acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) in relapse were treated with VP-16-213 plus azacitidine (5AZ). Each patient had previously received many chemotherapeutic drugs, including anthracyclines and cytarabine. Initially, 16 patients received a 5-day course of VP-16-213 (100 mg/m(2)) daily x 3 days and 5AZ 9150 mg/m(2)) daily x 2 days, repeated after 9-16 days. Since this treatment produced marrow hypoplasia and complete remission (CR) in only one of 16 patients, a more intensive regimen was devised: the remaining 22 patients received a course of VP-16-213 (200 mg/m(2)) daily x 3 days, followed by 5AZ (300 mg/Fm(2)) daily x 2 days, repeated after 1-2 days until the bone marrow became hypoplastic. After two to four courses, 18 patients had marrow hypoplasia and ten of these achieved CR. The proportion of patients achieving CR with the higher doses was significantly greater than that with the initial doses )P less than or equal to 0.05). The toxicity also increased with the higher doses, with major problems due to prolonged pancytopenia. Supportive therapy was required for severe bleeding and infections. We conclude that the intensive treatment with VP-16-213 plus 5AZ can effectively induce remission in patients with refractory advanced acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.     

Treatment of the blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia with 5-azacitidine and VP-16-213

Twenty-seven patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis were treated with a combination of 5-azacitidine (150 mg/m2/day iv in 3 divided doses x 5 days) and VP-16-213 (75 mg/m2/day x 5). No patient had lymphoid histology, and terminal transferase was not present in the 12 patients tested. One complete and 15 partial responses (58% response rate) were seen, with a median survival of 231 days for responders and 73 days for patients who failed to achieve a partial response (P = 0.008). The overall survival was 161 days (range, 20-316+). Moderately severe nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, and mucositis (two patients) were the major side effects, although toxic effects tended to decrease with subsequent courses and many patients could be treated on an outpatient basis. These results compare favorably with other results in this refractory disorders and suggest that 5-azacitidine and VP-16-213 be studied further, either in higher doses or in combination with other agents, in therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis.     

Combination therapy with mitoxantrone and etoposide in refractory acute myelogenous leukemia

We have investigated the efficacy of mitoxantrone in combination with etoposide in patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia. The regimen consisted of 10 mg/m2/day of mitoxantrone given iv on Days 1-5; and 100 mg/m2/day of etoposide as short infusion, initially on Days 1-3 and extended to Days 4 and 5 as appropriate. Of the 26 patients treated with this combination, nine (34.6%) have achieved complete remission and two have achieved partial remission. The median duration of continuous complete remission was 85 days (range, 21-183+). Toxicity was mild and only one case of early death was observed. This combination seems to be an active regimen in refractory acute myelogenous leukemia, and its incorporation in front-line therapy seems warranted.     

Intensive sequential chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and continuous infusion etoposide and cytarabine for previously treated acute myelogenous leukemia

Intensive sequential chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2/d on days 1 through 3, etoposide, 200 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 8 through 10, and cytarabine, 500 mg/m2/d as a continuous infusion on days 1 through 3 and 8 through 10 was administered to 72 patients aged less than 60 years with previously treated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Forty patients had refractory AML (nonresponse to prior therapy, early first relapse, or multiple relapse) and 32 had late first relapse. Sixty-one percent of patients, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 49% to 72%, achieved complete remission (CR), including 45% (CI: 30% to 62%) of refractory patients and 81% (CI: 64% to 93%) of late first relapse patients. Twenty-nine percent of patients (CI: 19% to 41%) did not respond to therapy and 10% (CI: 4% to 19%) died from therapy-related toxicity. Median duration of aplasia was 30 days. Nonhematologic WHO grade 3 or more toxicity included sepsis (57% of patients), vomiting (10%), mucositis (35%), diarrhea (7%), skin rash (6%), and hyperbilirubinemia (11%). Postinduction therapy was attempted in 36 of 44 CR patients: 16 of them received a second course of the same regimen, 7 received maintenance chemotherapy, 4 underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), and 9 allogeneic BMT. At a median follow-up of 20 months, 23 of the 44 complete remitters have relapsed, 1 to 14 months after achievement of CR, including 19 of 31 patients not undergoing BMT. Median survival is 7 months with 16% (CI: 4% to 28%) projected survival at 47 months. Median disease-free survival is 6 months with 21% (CI: 3% to 39%) of CR patients projected to remain disease-free at 46 months. Twenty-six percent (CI: 13% to 43%) of the evaluable patients who did not receive transplantation had inversion of CR duration. Among patients younger than 50 years, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival between patients receiving postinduction chemotherapy and those receiving BMT. We conclude that this chemotherapy regimen is highly efficient and could be used as first-line therapy in young patients with AML.     

Daunorubicin in patients with relapsed and refractory acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia previously treated with anthracycline

While the efficacy of daunorubicin (DNR) in first induction of patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) has been well documented, little data are available concerning the activity of DNR in patients with relapsed and refractory ANLL previously treated with anthracycline. We administered DNR (60 mg/m²/day for 3-5 days) in 21 patients with relapsed (n=12) or refractory (n=9) ANLL previously treated with anthracycline. The general response rate was 48%, with a complete response (CR) rate of 38%. Five of 12 patients with relapsed ANLL and 3 of 9 patients with refractory ANLL achieved CR. Among these cases with CR in refractory ANLL, the evolution of one patient is particularly illustrative since he had received previously a large cumulative dose of anthracycline (540 mg/m²) and has been shown to be refractory to high-dose cytosine arabinoside. This study suggests that previous administration of DNR or adriamycin does not Induce significant resistance to anthracycline: DNR appears to be almost as efficient in patients with relapsed and refractory ANLL previously treated with anthracycline as in first induction.     

Low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (CAG regimen) for previously treated patients with relapsed or primary resistant acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and previously untreated elderly patients with AML, secondary AML, and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation

We used the CAG regimen (low-dose cytarabine [10 mg/m2 per 12 hours, days 1-14], aclarubicin [14 mg/m2 per day, days 1-4], and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [200 micrograms/m2 per day, days 1-14]) for the treatment of patients with primary resistant acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and previously untreated elderly patients with AML, secondary AML, and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T) in addition to relapsed AML. Forty-three of 69 (62%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), including 29 of 35 (83%) patients with relapsed AML, 1 of 8 patients with primary resistant AML, 5 of 8 elderly patients with previously untreated AML, and 8 of 18 patients with previously untreated secondary AML or RAEB-T. Ten of 22 (45%) patients > or = 65 years old achieved CR. The patients who achieved CR received at least 1 course of modified CAG therapy as the first consolidation therapy, followed by various second consolidation and intensification therapies. The median disease-free survival and overall survival were 8 and 15 months, respectively, for relapsed AML; 11 and 8 months for the elderly patients; and 8 and 17 months for secondary AML and RAEB-T. Myelosuppression was mild to moderate, and other than fever, severe nonhematologic toxicity was rare. CAG as the induction therapy seems promising for the treatment of various categories of poor-prognosis AML.     

Preclinical studies of the combination of mafosfamide (Asta-Z 7654) and etoposide (VP-16-213) for purging leukemic autologous marrow

In the present study we evaluated the effect of etoposide (VP-16-213) compared to mafosfamide-cyclohexylamine (Asta-Z 7654) on normal granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (GM-CFU) growth, T-cell response to mitogens, and a clonogenic promyelocytic cell line (HL-60). The incubation time (30 min vs 60 min) appeared to be a fundamental parameter. The GM-CFU recovery was 14.4% +/- 7.3% and 1.4% +/- 2.3%, respectively, at 50 micrograms/ml Asta-Z 7654, and 17.6% +/- 8.6% and 3.00% +/- 2.4%, respectively, at 50 micrograms/ml VP-16. ASTA-Z at 50 micrograms/ml was effective in inhibiting the T-cell response to phytohemagglutinin (98.7% +/- 1.2%), whereas VP-16 was not (2.3% +/- 1.7%). With the combined chemical agents ranging from 10 to 20 micrograms/ml for each drug, we obtained a better GM-CFU recovery (five to ten times) using a middle term liquid culture (21-day incubation) than with the standard colony assay (plated immediately after treatment). When using HL-60 cells as the target, the antileukemic activity of VP-16 was lower than of Asta-Z 7654. Both compounds, at 20 micrograms/ml, resulted in 3.3- and 2.3-log cell killing, respectively. On the other hand, lower doses of Asta-Z 7654 combined with VP-16 (ranging from 10 to 15 micrograms/ml each) induced greater than 4-log cell killing after 60 min incubation time. These data suggest that VP-16 could be combined with Asta-Z provided that the dose is reduced for both drugs (less than 20 micrograms/ml).     

Tumor lysis syndrome following VP-16-213 in chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis

Several recent reports have emphasized the potentially serious and often fatal acute metabolic complications following cytotoxic chemotherapy in both solid tumors and leukemias. We present here a case of chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis who developed an acute tumor lysis syndrome following a single dose of VP-16-213 (Etoposide).     

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone: a highly effective regimen in refractory acute myeloid leukemia

In a clinical phase I/II study, high-dose cytosine arabinoside and mitoxantrone (HAM) were given in combination to 40 patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia. All patients had received a 9-day combination of thioguanine, Ara-C, and daunorubicin (TAD-9) as standardized first-line treatment. Refractoriness was defined as (a) nonresponse against two TAD-9 induction cycles, (b) early relapse within the first 6 months on monthly maintenance or after TAD-9 consolidation, (c) relapse after 6 months with nonresponse against one additional TAD-9 cycle, and (d) second and subsequent relapses after successful TAD-9 therapy at the preceding relapse. Therapy consisted of HD-Ara-C 3 g/m2 every 12 hours on days 1 through 4; mitoxantrone was started at 12 mg/m2/day on days 3, 4, and 5 and was escalated to 4 and 5 doses of 10 mg/m2/day on days 2 through 5 and 2 through 6. Of the 40 patients, 21 achieved a complete remission (53%), 1 patient had a partial remission, and 5 patients were nonresponders. Thirteen patients died in aplasia due to infections (n = 11), pericardiac effusion, or acute cardiomyopathy. Nonhematologic side effects consisted predominantly of nausea and vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea. Central nervous system (CNS) symptoms were observed during six treatment courses. Recovery of blood counts occurred at a median of 27 days from the onset of treatment; the median time to complete remission was 36 days. Two of the 21 responders underwent successful bone marrow transplantations. The median remission duration for the remaining 19 patients is 4.5 months, and the median survival time is 9 months. These data emphasize that HAM has high antileukemic activity in refractory AML and strongly suggest starting the combination at earlier stages in AML therapy.     

Phase II evaluation of diglycoaldehyde, VP-16-213, and the combination of methyl-CCNU and beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine in previously treated patients with colorectal cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group study (EST-1275).

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group assessed the activity of diglycoaldehyde (DGA), VP-16-213, and the combination of methyl-CCNU and beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine in previously treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Objective responses were seen in two of 40 evaluable patients receiving methyl-CCNU and beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine and in one of 35 patients receiving DGA. None of 33 patients responded to VP-16-213, but one death related to sepsis and bone marrow failure occurred. Survival of patients whose previous chemotherapy included a nitrosourea was markedly shortened compared to those who had not been exposed to nitrosoureas. With the possible exception of DGA, further treatment of patients with colorectal cancer with these therapies is not warranted.     

Etoposide (VP-16-213)-induced gene alterations: potential contribution to cell death.

We have shown previously a good correlation between etoposide-induced sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and cytotoxicity. A semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, etoposide is also called Vepesid (Bristol; code designation VP-16-213, abbreviated VP-16). Since SCE represent DNA recombinational events, we hypothesized that VP-16-induced SCE might result in nonhomologous recombination in which segments of DNA were either deleted or added, leading to an alteration of gene sequences responsible for essential cell proteins. Alterations of such essential genes and consequent interference with formation of their products could consequently lead to cell death. To evaluate whether VP-16 treatment caused sufficient levels of DNA sequence alterations to interfere with gene product formation, we isolated hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT)-deficient mutants from Chinese hamster V79 cells grown in the presence or absence of VP-16. DNA from 3 spontaneous mutants and 10 VP-16-induced mutants was analyzed by Southern blot hybridization to a full-length hamster HPRT cDNA probe. Most of the VP-16-induced mutants showed partial deletions and/or rearrangements of the HPRT gene. In contrast, spontaneous mutants showed negligible deletions or rearrangements. These results provide strong support for our hypothesis that deletion of genetic sequences may constitute an important component of the mechanism of VP-16-induced cell death.     

Therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome-acute myelogenous leukemia in patients treated for acute promyelocytic leukemia: an emerging problem.

The use of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with chemotherapy has markedly improved the prognosis for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL); the higher complete remission (CR) and survival rates now reported in this disease almost approach those obtained for other highly curable hematologic malignancies. Of 77 patients with APL who were consecutively treated at a single institution and who achieved CR after induction and consolidation therapy, 5 (6.5%) acquired therapy-related myelodysplasia (tMDS), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), or both (tMDS-AML). Of these, 3 of 46 (6.5%) patients received front-line chemotherapy with or without ATRA and acquired tMDS-AML while in first remission of APL. Two underwent repeated chemotherapy cycles with ATRA because of APL relapse and acquired tMDS-AML while in the second or third remission of APL. In 2 patients, clinical and biologic characteristics of tMDS-AML were as expected for postalkylating forms (long latency, MDS phase preceding AML, karyotypic aberrations involving chromosomes 5 or 7), even though one of them had not previously received alkylating drugs. Three of the 5 patients died shortly after tMDS-AML diagnosis, one is alive with tMDS, and one is alive and in CR after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The occurrence of tMDS-AML after successful therapy for APL is an emerging problem. The availability of prognostic score systems at initial diagnosis and monitoring of residual disease by polymerase chain reaction might allow better tailoring of treatment intensity in APL to spare unnecessary toxicity and to minimize the risk for tMDS-AML in patients who are presumably cured.