Mitoxantrone and high‐dose etoposide for patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia

: Among 35 patients with relapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who received salvage chemotherapy, 28 were treated with mitoxantrone (7.5 mg/m2/d intravenously [IV] over 1 hour for 5 days) and etoposide (VP-16) (2 g/m2 over 4 days either as a daily infusion or as two daily doses). Seven patients received mitoxantrone (6 mg/m2/d for 5 days) and VP-16 (1500 mg/m2 over 3 days). The median duration of the initial complete remission (CR) was 6 months and 83% of the patients had initial CR that lasted 12 months or less. Forty-six percent of the patients were undergoing a second or subsequent salvage attempt. Eight patients (23%) achieved CR; seven of these CR were obtained after one course of therapy. Twelve patients (33%) died and 15 patients (42%) had disease that was resistant to treatment. Patients undergoing a first salvage attempt had a higher incidence rate of CR than those undergoing a second or subsequent salvage attempt (37% versus 6%; P = 0.03). CR rates were also higher in patients with a favorable (translocation 8;21 or 15;17) or diploid karyotype compared with other patients (32% versus 8%; P = 0.10). The median survival time was 2 months for all patients and 8 months for patients achieving CR. Mucositis occurred in 74% of the patients and was severe in 32%. Diarrhea and rash occurred in less than 33% of the patients. Fever was noticed in all but 1 of the patients and documented infections occurred in 65% of the patients. Six patients had pancytopenia or thrombocytopenia that lasted more than 42 days from the initiation of treatment. Although mitoxantrone and high-dose VP-16 is an effective antileukemic regimen, it is associated with a high incidence of mucositis. Strategies that are used to limit mucosal damage may improve the tolerance of this combination.