High-dose cytarabine treatment with asparaginase (Capizzi schedule) in recurrent or refractory AML in the adult

4 patients with refractory AML or AML in relapse were treated with high dose Ara-C and L-asparaginase. Although only one patient was resistant against this type of treatment, a durable complete remission could be achieved in only one case. Severe myelosuppression was observed in all 4 cases; non-hematologic toxicity, however, was minimal.