High-dose chemotherapy with noncryopreserved autologous bone marrow transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission.

Seven patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in first complete remission were treated with escalating high doses of cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C). In all patients autologous bone marrow preservation was performed prior to therapy. Bone marrow was stored in blood bags in a refrigerator for 48-72 h at 4 degrees C and then reinfused over a central line. All patients had a full hematological recovery. The mean time of neutropenia (neutrophils less than 500/microliters) was 14 days (range 9-24 days), and the mean time of thrombocytopenia (platelets less than 20,000/microliters) was 9 days (range 7-11 days). The nonhematological toxicity was tolerable with mild to moderate nausea/vomiting, mucositis and diarrhea, and so far not dose-limiting. Six patients remain in complete remission 17+, 9+, 5+, 5+, 4+, and 1+ months after autotransplantation. One patient relapsed 8 months after autotransplantation. High-dose chemotherapy with noncryopreserved bone marrow autotransplantation may be useful as intensified consolidation for patients with AML in first complete remission.