Anthracycline Dose Intensification in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Lack of Benefit in the Context of the Fractionated Cyclophosphamide Vincristine Doxorubicin and Dexamethasone Regimen

摘要

BackgroundIn previous studies of frontline therapy for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), early treatment with higher doses of anthracyclines has been reported to improve outcome. The current study was conducted to evaluate whether addition of anthracycline-based consolidation chemotherapy (Course 2) with liposomal daunorubicin (150 mg/m² intravenously [IV] on Days 1 and 2) and cytarabine (1.5 g/m² IV on Days 1 and 2) to the standard hyper-CVAD regimen (fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone alternating with high dose methotrexate and cytarabine) would improve outcome.