Purpose: Despite the achievement of complete remission with chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapse is common and the majority of patients will die of their disease. Patients who achieve a remission after refractory or relapsed disease as well as elderly patients have a very high rate of relapse even if they achieve a complete remission. A phase 3 randomized ECOG-ACRIN-led intergroup study was conducted to determine whether post-remission therapy with the farnesyl transferase inhibitor, tipifarnib (R115777), improved the disease-free survival (DFS) of adult patients with AML in complete remission (CR), at high risk for relapse.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFew studies have evaluated prognostic factors among patients with multiple myeloma (MM) since new therapies have become available. Monthly zoledronic acid (ZOL) has been incorporated into many treatment regimens to reduce skeletal-related events (SREs), but outcomes among patients receiving this bisphosphonate have not been well-defined. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine baseline and on-treatment prognostic factors in these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aims of this study were to evaluate the safety and efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in the treatment of the accelerated and blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and to evaluate in vitro correlates of biological activity. ATRA was administered in an intermittent schedule to patients with CML in the accelerated or blastic phases for a 6 week induction period, which was continued if there was evidence of clinical response or stable disease. If the patient was progressing at 6 weeks, interferon-alpha could be added to the ATRA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe optimal induction for older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unknown. Several anthracyclines have been proposed, but the data remain equivocal. Additionally, few prospective trials of priming with hematopoietic growth factors to cycle leukemia cells prior to induction chemotherapy have been conducted.
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