Mitoxantrone for refractory and relapsed acute leukemia

Article Abstract:

Leukemia is a blood cancer characterized by the unrestrained growth of white blood cells (leukocytes) and their precursors in tissues. This disease is classified according to the dominant cell type involved and the severity of the disease. The effects of the anticancer agent mitoxantrone were assessed in 77 acute leukemia patients who had relapsed or whose disease was unresponsive to treatment (refractory), and in three patients with acute blastic chronic myeloid leukemia. Complete remission was achieved in 32 of 80 patients, and lasted from 44 to 1,210 days. Complete remission occurred in 23 of 45 patients with relapsed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), four of 12 patients with relapsed acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), four of 17 patients with ANLL that was refractory to daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside, and one of three patients with refractory ALL. Mitoxantrone was ineffective in producing complete remission in any of the patients with acute blastic chronic myeloid leukemia. Most patients survived for a period of 121 days, and a complete response lasted for 303 days in most patients. Adverse effects on blood cells were mild and moderately prolonged, and other toxic effects were tolerable. These findings show that mitoxantrone is active against acute leukemia and should be considered as a first-line agent in the treatment of ANLL. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Antineoplastic agents, Identification and classification, Leukemia, Mitoxantrone hydrochloride, Mitoxantrone

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Candida colonization and systemic infection in neutropenic patients

Article Abstract:

Infection by the fungus Candida, which spreads throughout the body, is a problem for patients with hematologic cancers (cancers of the blood cells). It is difficult to obtain early diagnosis of Candida infection. The fungus must be isolated from the blood more than once and/or shown to have invaded tissues. A group of 424 patients with various hematologic malignancies and who were all neutropenic (had reduced numbers of white blood cells) were evaluated for Candida infection. Eighteen out of 56 (32 percent) of the patients who had multiple colonization sites had Candida infection throughout their body (systemic Candida). Only 2 patients out of 170 (1.2 percent) had systemic infection with only one colonized site. One patient out of 198 (0.5 percent) had systemic infection with no detectable colonization sites. Twenty-two patients with multiple colonized sites were resistant to antibiotics and were treated with amphotericin B, an anti-fungal agent. Nine out of 11 patients given anti-fungal therapy within 6 days of developing a fever survived, while only 3 of 11 patients given anti-fungal therapy after the sixth day of the onset of fever survived. Early treatment with anti-fungal therapy for patients with multiple Candida colonization sites and fever is imperative. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Antibiotics, Complications and side effects, Candidiasis, Fungi, Pathogenic, Pathogenic fungi, Blood diseases, Hematologic diseases, Amphotericin B, Neutropenia

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Levofloxacin to prevent bacterial infection in patients with cancer and neutropenia

Article Abstract:

Several adult patients suffering from cancer were given oral levofloxacin or placebo from the beginning of chemotherapy till the resolution of neutropenia. The findings proved that levofloxacin successfully prevented infection-related outcomes in such patients, although the long-term impact of this treatment on bacterial immunity remains unknown.

New England States, Prevention, Bacterial infections, Cancer patients, Dosage and administration, New England, Levofloxacin

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