[Reduced dosage of cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of acute myelocytic leukemia. Apropos of 3 cases].

Two out of three patients with acute myeloid leukemia responded to treatment with small subcutaneous doses of cytosine-arabinoside alone. Although marked cytopenia may transiently occur this treatment has no other side effects and is simple to administer. It may therefore be useful for elderly patients. Morphological studies and indirect evidence suggest that this schedule, dosage and route of administration for cytosine-arabinoside may promote differentiation within the malignant clone rather than acting as a cytotoxic agent.