Successful treatment of acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia.

2 patients with acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (AMKBL) were successfully treated with a combination of aclarubicin hydrochloride (an anthracycline), enocitabine (a derivative of cytosine arabinoside) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) or 6-thioguanine (6-TG). They achieved a complete remission following 1 or 2 courses. They remained well and in complete remission throughout 3 courses of consolidation therapy, a total of 9 weeks. The results of remission induction therapy of AMKBL have been reviewed in the literature. 4 of 7 adult patients, including our cases, treated with 3 drugs, anthracycline, cytosine arabinoside or its derivative and 6-TG or 6-MP, achieved a complete remission. AMKBL may not have so poor a prognosis as previously believed.