[Refractory acute myelogenous leukemia successfully treated with a continuous infusion chemotherapy of low dose aclarubicin and cytosine arabinoside: a case report].

A 44-year-old female with refractory acute myelogeneous leukemia had experienced an early relapse after a third complete remission (CR) with combination chemotherapy (BHAC-AMP) using daily one-shot infusion of 20 mg aclarubicin (ACR). Further treatments including intermediate dose of cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) were not effective. After treatment with a continuous administration of low dose ACR (9 mg/day) and Ara-C (21 mg/day) for 14 days she entered a fourth CR. The mechanism of this treatment relates to both cell-killing and differentiation effects on leukemic cells.