Chemotherapy with ubenimex corresponding to patient age and organ disorder for 18 cases of acute myelogeneous leukemia in elderly patients--effects, complications and long-term survival]

Ubenimex was concurrently administered to 18 elderly patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), and a chemotherapy protocol was prepared corresponding to patient age and organ disorders. The dose-reduced protocol of the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group (JALSG) '95 or aclarubicin 14 mg/m2 day 1-4, cytosine arabinoside 15 mg/m2 day 1-14, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) 150 micrograms/body day 1-14 (CAG therapy) were administered. In addition, ubenimex 30 mg/day was administered orally after induction of remission. As per the JALSG protocol for dose reduction when organ disorder is absent, 85% and 70% of the dose were administered to the patients aged 65-69 years and 70-74 years, respectively. For patients aged 75 years or more and patients with mild disorders of the heart, kidney, and liver, CAG therapy was administered. As a result, the complete remission (CR) rate was 67%, and the three-year survival rate was 32%. This protocol may be useful for elderly AML.