["AB-Triple V" therapy of relapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia].

Sixteen adults with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in relapse or refractory to conventional therapy were treated with AB-Triple V therapy. This regimen consists of aclarubicin, behenoyl cytosine arabinoside, etoposide, vincristine, and vinblastine or vindesine. Patients who obtained complete remission (CR) were then given monthly three courses of AB-Triple V therapy, and further courses of AB-triple V therapy every three months. Eleven of the 16 patients entered CR, three were no response, and two died early after initial AB-Triple V therapy. Among 11 patients who achieved CR, 7 are alive and in CR during 1 to 13 months, one died of hepatic failure, and three patients died of infection in CR. Systemic arthralgia following the administration of vinblastine were frequently observed. These results indicate that this salvage therapy are useful relapsed or refractory AML. Therefore, the role of this combination chemotherapy as a part of the initial post-remission therapy needs to be evaluated.