Vincristine (NSC-67574), cytosine arabinoside (NSC-63878), 6 thioguanine (NSC-752) and daunorubicin (NSC-82151) (VAT-D): a pilot study of combination chemotherapy for remission induction in acute myeloid leukemia in adults.

Fifteen newly diagnosed unselected adult patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia were treated in a pilot study of the combination of vincristine, cytosine arabinoside, 6-thioguanine, and daunorubicin (VAT-D) for remission induction therapy. Eleven of fifteen (75%) achieved a remission bone marrow. Median duration of remission was seven months in all responders (11 patients). The 11 patients achieving initial remission reached a median survival of 14 months. Twelve of seventeen attempts at reinduction of remission with VAT-D were successful. The total amount of daunorubicin required for induction was less than that required in the majority of reported acute leukemia treatment regimens utilizing daunorubicin.