Acute myelogenous leukemia: successful treatment of relapse with cytosine arabinoside, VP 16-213, vincristine and vinblastine (A-triple-V).

Between March 1980 and January 1982, 15 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in relapse were treated with one or more cycles of a combination chemotherapy consisting of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), VP 16-213, vincristine and vinblastine (A-triple-V). Of a total of 20 treatment cycles given, one partial and 15 complete remissions were achieved, there was no change in the bone marrow in two cases, one patient died due to Pseudomonas septicemia during an apparently normal bone marrow regeneration and one patient died of Candida infection while in aplasia. With 15 out of 20 (75%) successful relapse treatment courses, A-triple-V should be tested in first-line protocols.