Treatment of patients with advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia with interferon-alpha-2b and continuous oral cytarabine ocfosfate (YNK01): a pilot study

The efficacy of continuous oral cytarabine ocfosfate (YNK01) (300 mg/day) i n combination with interferon alpha (IFN alpha, 5 x 10(6) IU/day) was evalu ated in patients with advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia, who previously failed to respond to IFN alpha-based therapies. Dose escalations up to 900 mg YNK01 were allowed in patients who failed to respond. In view of our re sults, four patients developed a complete hematological response after YNK0 1 was started. Among those who initially responded to YNK01, one complete c ytogenetic response was achieved 18 months later.,Although the data are pre liminary, this is the first study showing that continuous administration of YNK01 along with IFN alpha is effective in patients with advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.