Clinical study on MEAD regimens for relapsed or refractory adult patients with acute lymphocyte leukemia

Objective: To study the clinic effect and safety of MEAD chemotherapy regimen for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphocyte leukemia. Methods: Between July 2006 and July 2009, twenty-two adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphocyte leukemia received MEAD regimen (mitoxantrone 6 mg/d d1-3 iv drip, cytarabine 100 mg/d d1-5 iv drip, etoposide 100 mg/d d1-5 iv drip, dexmethasone 10 mg/d d1-8 iv drip). Results: The complete remission (CR) rate of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphocyte leukemia was 31.8 %, the partial remission(PR) rate was 22.7 % and the overall response (OR) rate 54.5 %. The cumulitive CR rate was 50.0 %, and the PR rate 40.9 % after two times MEAD chemotherapy regimen. The main adverse effect was different level of myelosuppression, and other toxicity of vital organ was mild. Conclusion: MEAD regimen is effective and can be tolerated for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphocyte leukemia, and its side effect is mild.