thioguanine-anhydrous and Thrombocytopenia

The treatment of acute leukemia in adults, while not yet as successful as that in children with regard to either remission rate or prolongation of life, can now regularly result in at least 50% responses in acute myelocytic leukemia and 70-80% in acute lymphocytic leukemia. Intensive specific chemotherapy and supportive therapy throughout the resultant period of myelo and immuno-suppression are necessary to achieve these remission rates. Further investigations aimed at both prolonging the remissions so obtained and at improving the response rate further are essential.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Blood Transfusion; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors

6-Thioguanine (TG) was recently studied to determine whether TG in maintenance therapy achieves better event free survival than 6-mercaptopurine (MP) for standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on the clinical trial, CCG-1952 (5/1996-1/2000). Veno-occlusive disease was previously recognized as a complication of TG on CCG-1952. We report a newly recognized pediatric complication of TG: splenomegaly and portal hypertension (PH) developing during maintenance or after completion of therapy.. Twelve patients (3-10 years) had been randomized to receive a targeted dose of 50 mg/m(2)/day of TG during maintenance phases. Actual TG dose ranged from 25 to 77 mg/m(2)/day (median 34 mg/m(2)/day).. The initial patient, a boy who had marked thrombocytopenia and intermittent splenomegaly during maintenance therapy, was evaluated for persistent pancytopenia and progressive splenomegaly 3 months after completion of therapy. Dilated splenic vein and collaterals consistent with PH were documented by MRI/MRA. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy found esophageal varices. Liver biopsy showed periportal fibrosis and marked dilatation of veins and venules. Of the other 12 patients, 9 patients studied had abnormal MRI/MRAs with evidence of varices in 4. Eight patients had splenomegaly on physical examination. Liver biopsies in a girl after 3.3 courses of TG and a boy after 4.6 courses of TG showed periportal fibrosis and dilatation of venules and sinusoids and minimal focal fatty changes. Subsequent MRI/MRAs have been stable or improved.. The evaluations of these 12 patients suggest that treatment with TG causes injury to the liver leading to PH and that thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly are clinical hallmarks of this toxicity.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Child; Child, Preschool; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Female; Humans; Hypertension, Portal; Magnetic Resonance Angiography; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mercaptopurine; Pancytopenia; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Splenomegaly; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

The German cooperative study group for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (COALL-92) was designed to examine the clinical effectiveness of thioguanine (TG) versus mercaptopurine (MP) in maintenance treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a randomized multicenter trial. TG and MP are prodrugs and have to be converted intracellularly to 6-thioguanine nucleotides (TGNs) for cytostatic activity. TG is converted into TGN in fewer steps and has been shown to be more cytotoxic in equimolar doses in vitro compared with 6-MP. Therefore, a higher effectiveness of TG in maintenance treatment was postulated. Of 521 patients enrolled into the protocol, 474 were randomized to receive either MP or TG during maintenance therapy in a daily oral dose. After a median observation time of 6.6 years, the probability of event-free survival was 79% +/- 3% for the MP group (238 children) and 78% +/- 3% in the TG group (236 patients). In spite of TGN levels, exceeding those of the MP group 7 times, treatment with TG did not improve the outcome but was more complicated to handle due to a specific toxicity profile of prolonged myelosuppression with marked thrombocytopenia. Therefore, MP should remain the preferred drug for maintenance treatment of ALL, unless other studies demonstrate superiority of TG in larger trials or selected patient groups.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Humans; Immunophenotyping; Infant; Male; Mercaptopurine; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prodrugs; Risk; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors

The cytotoxic activity of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) is affected by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), a genetically regulated and variable intracellular enzyme. 6-Thioguanine (6-TG), a closely related thiopurine, is less affected by that enzyme and so it may be a more reliable drug-at least for patients with constitutionally high TPMT activity. We attempted to assess its suitability as an alternative by comparing the pharmacokinetics of both drugs in a small group of children with lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Patients were included who were in their second or subsequent remission, who would otherwise have received 6-MP, and on whom pharmacokinetic data concerning 6-MP metabolism had been collected in a previous remission. Plasma 6-TG concentrations were assayed following an oral dose of 40 mg m-2, and the accumulation and fluctuation of intracellular (erythrocyte, RBC) 6-TG nucleotides (6-TGNs) were measured at regular intervals during daily oral therapy. Seven children were studied. Plasma 6-TG concentrations were low and cleared within 6 h of oral dosing. At 7 days, 6-TGN concentrations ranged from 959 to 2361 pmol 8 x 10(-8) RBCs, in all cases significantly higher (P = 0.002) than those produced by the same patients on 6-MP. After a total therapy time of 35 patient months, a modest rise of alanine aminotransferase was seen on one occasion, otherwise no toxicity apart from myelosuppression was encountered. In the context used, 6-TG appears well tolerated and produces higher concentrations of intracellular cytotoxic metabolites than 6-MP. For children constitutionally 'resistant' to the traditional drug, if not all, it may be a preferable alternative.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Erythrocytes; Female; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Mercaptopurine; Neutropenia; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors

To investigate the value of maintenance chemotherapy after early consolidation treatment, an attempt was made to induce remission in 162 previously untreated patients, age-range 7-65 years (median 43). The 74 patients who were still in remission after early consolidation treatment (given for 3-5 months) were assigned to either maintenance chemotherapy every 8 weeks for 2 years or to observation only. After a median observation period of 44 months there was no difference between the groups in duration of remission or survival. Surprisingly, patients above 40 survived longer after early consolidation (median 4 years) than did patients aged 40 and below (median 1.6 years, p = 0.0002).

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Agranulocytosis; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cytarabine; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Prednisone; Prognosis; Random Allocation; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Vincristine

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Asparaginase; Blood Platelets; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Male; Mercaptopurine; Middle Aged; Prednisone; Prognosis; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Hepatic VOD is a potentially fatal complication during stem cell transplantation and is rarely seen in the non-transplant setting. We report the case of a five-year-old boy who presented with visual complaints during delayed intensification phase of treatment for ALL. He was found to have bilateral retinal hemorrhages associated with profound thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy. VOD was diagnosed based on EBMT criteria and was managed with supportive care. Despite resolution of VOD, his vision progressively deteriorated and resulted in blindness. This case highlights the significance of close monitoring of ALL patients in delayed intensification when they are at risk for developing VOD, the importance of refractory thrombocytopenia as a diagnostic feature and the potential for VOD to manifest with intraocular bleeding.

Topics: Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Blindness; Child, Preschool; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease; Humans; Male; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Retinal Hemorrhage; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Long-term follow-up of 11 children with 6-thioguanine-induced hepatoportal toxicity is described. Features of persistent portal hypertension in eight patients after 9.7 ± 3.4 years (mean ± SD) of treatment were more common in late presenters. Splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and altered hepatic echotexture were seen in six, eight and seven patients, respectively. One of the thrombocytopenic patients had heavy menstrual bleeding and pregnancy loss. Five of six patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had esophageal varices and four underwent banding. Late presentation in a subset of patients mandates long-term surveillance and follow-up for all patients treated with 6-thioguanine for early detection and management of hepatoportal complications.

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypertension, Portal; Male; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Risk Factors; Splenomegaly; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors

Measurement of thiopurine metabolite levels may be useful as a clinical tool to optimize thiopurine treatment of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).. The authors evaluated correlations between 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN) and therapeutic response, metabolite levels and drug toxicity.. Fifty-six paediatric IBD patients treated with thiopurines had 326 metabolite level measurements and were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical status and laboratory parameters were compared with metabolite levels.. There was significant correlation between 6-TGN levels and therapeutic response, with higher median 6-TGN levels among patients with therapeutic response than those with non-therapeutic response (194 vs. 146 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBC; P = 0.0004). Patients with 6-TGN levels >235 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBC were more likely to achieve therapeutic response than those below the cut-off (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.1). Patients who developed leukopenia tended to have higher median 6-TGN levels than those without leukopenia (261 vs. 160 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBC) but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no correlation between 6-methylmercaptopurine levels and hepatotoxicity. Two patients developed acute pancreatitis. Metabolite level measurements were helpful in identifying non-compliance in nine patients.. Monitoring of thiopurine metabolite levels is useful to guide and optimize dosing, as an adjunct to clinical judgement, blood count and liver biochemistry measurements to minimize the risk of drug toxicity and to confirm non-compliance.

Topics: Adolescent; Azathioprine; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Child; Child, Preschool; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Infant; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Leukopenia; Male; Mercaptopurine; Pancreatitis; Retrospective Studies; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Treatment Refusal

Topics: Adult; Crohn Disease; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

As a prelude to a nationwide randomized trial of thioguanine (TG) versus mercaptopurine (MP) for childhood lymphoblastic leukaemia we compared a pilot group of 23 children taking TG with a matched group taking MP. We assessed drug tolerance based on haematological toxicity and measured erythrocyte (RBC) concentrations of thioguanine nucleotides (TGN). The median tolerated dose of TG was 30 mg/m2 compared to 55 mg/m2 for MP. There was no difference in the pattern of anaemia or neutropenia between the two groups, but dose-limiting thrombocytopenia was more evident in the TG children (P< 0.001), four of whom had a decrease in platelet count to <20 x 10(9)/l compared to only one on MP. The median RBC TGN concentration for those on 40 mg/m2 TG was 1726 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBCs compared with 308 pmol/8 x 10(8) RBCs for those on 75 mg/m2 MP (P< 0.0001). There was an inverse correlation between RBC TGNs and neutrophil count in the MP group but not in those on TG. No correlation between metabolite concentration and thrombocytopenia was found in either group. These results provide further evidence that TG has a selective effect on platelets. They also showed that RBC TGN were, on average, 5-fold higher in those taking TG but did not obviously relate to myelotoxicity as found in children on MP. The higher concentrations seen may partly reflect the erythrocyte's ability to metabolize TG directly to TGN by pathways not open to MP.

Topics: Adolescent; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Mercaptopurine; Neutropenia; Neutrophils; Nucleotides; Platelet Count; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Older patients with RAEB-T or AML are extremely difficult to treat. They are at high risk of infection and/or bleeding complications and have a low probability of cure and short overall survival with conventional treatments. We treated 12 patients with an outpatient low-dose chemotherapy regimen consisting of Ara-C 100 mg subcutaneously on day 1, and 6-thioguanine 80 mg orally on days 2-5, repeated every week. Nine patients had MDS, six RAEB-T, and three RAEB (median age 57 years) and three had de novo AML (median age 73 years). All patients were transfusion dependent. The mean peripheral blast count at the beginning of treatment was 29% (4-51%). The median follow-up is 13 months (2-34 months) for all the patients and 14 months (2-34 months) for those with RAEB-T. Nine of the 12 patients are alive, including seven RAEB-T patients with a median of 18 months (range 6-34+ months). During treatment, the peripheral blast count was markedly reduced to a mean of 5% (0-23%). The mean pre-therapy platelet count, with transfusion support, was 24.0 x 10(9)/l, while the mean post-therapy platelet count without transfusion support is 95.0 x 10(9)/l. All patients except two became transfusion independent at some time. Treatment for 6-10 weeks was required to show reduction of blast number and increase in hemoglobin, platelet, and WBC counts. Initial cytopenias were the only side effects of this regimen. One patient had granulocytopenic fever. In conclusion, this low-dose regimen is effective and well tolerated for outpatient palliation in high-risk or elderly patients with RAEB-T or AML.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cytarabine; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Injections, Subcutaneous; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Palliative Care; Platelet Transfusion; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Topics: Agranulocytosis; Antifungal Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Depression, Chemical; Hematopoiesis; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute; Life Tables; Mitoxantrone; Mycoses; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Eight patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia in adults refractory to Daunomycin (DM)-based conventional regimens were treated with AMSA-based regimens. Complete remission (CR) was obtained in 4 (50%) and partial remission (PR) in 2 (25%). The median time to CR was 26.5 days and 3 cases achieved CR in the first cycle. The median duration of CR was 8.3 months. Hematologic toxicity was severe and the nadir (median) of leukocytes and platelets was 0.15 x 10(3)/microliters and 15.5 x 10(3)/microliters, respectively. Other adverse effects were mucositis, nausea.vomiting and hepatotoxicity which occurred over 50%, while cardiac toxicity was not observed. This study indicates that AMSA is clinically non-cross-resistant to DM and considered to be an active drug for salvage therapy.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Amsacrine; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Evaluation; Drug Resistance; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Prednisolone; Remission Induction; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Eighty two children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia presenting at this hospital received one or two modules of intensive chemotherapy to consolidate remission. Modules were given after four and roughly 19 weeks on treatment. Each included two doses of daunorubicin (45 mg/m2/day), cytosine arabinoside (100 mg/m2 twice daily X 5), etoposide (100 mg/m2/day X 5), and 6-thioguanine (80 mg/m2/day X 5). A total of 132 courses were given. This study included all new patients except girls aged 1-14 years with presenting leucocyte count less than 20 X 10(9)/l. Twenty patients with recurrent disease were also included. The first 32 patients were given cytosine as a 24 hour infusion, but combined with the other agents this was associated with severe intestinal toxicity, which necessitated a change to a less toxic 12 hourly bolus regimen. The complications of the module are reviewed in terms of myelosuppression, enterotoxicity, infection, and other clinical problems encountered. All patients became profoundly neutropenic and thrombocytopenic. The latter was significantly more severe after cytosine infusion. Overall, 64% received platelet transfusions and 85% were re-admitted with fevers requiring intravenous antibiotics for between four and 56 days. Gastrointestinal toxicity with the modified module occurred in 38% of patients and was severe in 13%. This intensification module has been adopted by the Medical Research Council Working Party on Childhood Leukaemia for use in a multicentre study (UKALL X) and the details of the problems encountered in the pilot study may be of value to other centres now using this protocol.

Topics: Adolescent; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Infant; Infections; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Male; Neutropenia; Pilot Projects; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Treatment of chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia with hydroxyurea or busulfan rarely induces cytogenetic (true) remissions. Intensive chemotherapy induces brief true remissions in approximately 50% of patients. We added 13-cis-retinoic acid to daunorubicin, cytosine arabinoside, and thioguanine to determine if it could increase the incidence and duration of remission induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy. Of the 17 evaluable patients, one patient (6%) achieved complete remission, and seven patients (41%) achieved partial remissions. The median duration of remission was 1.6 months. We conclude that 13-cis-retinoic acid does not increase the incidence and duration of remission in chronic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bone Marrow; Chromosomes, Human, 21-22 and Y; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Humans; Isotretinoin; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukopenia; Liver; Middle Aged; Stomatitis; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors; Tretinoin

Sixty patients with ANLL were given intensified remission induction therapy consisting of thioguanine, cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin (TAD). The mean age of patients was 47.6 years (range 18 to 74 years). Basing on leukemic cell kinetic data time sequencing of drugs was different from the original TAD protocol. Complete remission (CR) waa achieved in 43/60 patients (72%) with 10 CR in 15 patients over 60 years of age. Seventy-nine percent of the CR were induced by one cycle vs thirty percent reported from the original TAD regimen. The major cause of induction failure--in ten of the 60 patients--was thrombocytopenia refractory to platelet transfusions. Persisting leukemia after two induction cycles was documented in only two patients. Median remission duration by life table analysis is 10 months with 17 patients in continuous CR for 1+ to 22+ months.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Humans; Leukemia; Middle Aged; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Tn polyagglutination (persistent mixed-field polyagglutination) was detected in the blood of a 66-yr-old male laborer at the time of a splenectomy for life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Confirmation that the polyagglutination was caused by Tn activation was established by the use of lectins, by failure of the patient's red cells to react with sera from other patients with Tn polyagglutination, by weak aggregation with polybrene, by low red cell sialic acid levels, and by the persistence of polyagglutination over several years of testing. Two years after the discovery of the Tn polyagglutination, the patient developed acute myelomonocytic leukemia. Vigorous chemotherapy regimens resulted in clinical remission of the leukemia and the Tn polyagglutination. This report describes the first known case of Tn polyagglutination preceding the development of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Topics: Aged; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Hemagglutination; Humans; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Splenectomy; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Cats frequently develop a variety of spontaneous hemolymphatic noeplasias. Long-term remissions in the nonlymphatic leukemic cat are difficult to obtain; therefore, more successful chemotherapeutic agents are sought for disease control. The purpose in the present study is to describe the clinical investigation of 3 antineoplastic drugs given to 23 normal cats. The cats tolerated doxorubican given at the dose level of 30 mg/m2 of body surface area once every 3 weeks; daunomycin, 15 to 30 mg/m2 once every 3 weeks; and 6-thioguanine, 25 mg/m2 for 5 days every 20 to 30 days.

Topics: Alopecia; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Daunorubicin; Doxorubicin; Female; Leukocyte Count; Leukopenia; Male; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Beta-thioguanine deoxyriboside (betaTGdR) is a purine nucleoside derivative which was studied alone or in combination with arabinosyl cytosine (Ara-C) in patients with solid tumors and acute leukemia. No significant responses were observed in 22 patients with solid tumors. The response rate with betaTGdR alone in acute leukemia was 26% and in combination with Ara-C was 24%. Responses were generally of short duration. Toxicity included myelosuppression, nausea, stomatitis, hyperpigmentation, photosensitivity, and liver function abnormalities.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytarabine; Deoxyguanosine; Deoxyribonucleosides; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Guanosine; Humans; Leukemia; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Thionucleosides; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors

Topics: Anemia, Pernicious; Blood Cell Count; Bone Marrow Cells; Cytarabine; Cytoplasm; Follow-Up Studies; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Megakaryocytes; Mercaptopurine; Plasmacytoma; Polycythemia; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytarabine; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Infant; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukopenia; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Male; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Anemia; Child; Cytarabine; DNA, Neoplasm; Female; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukocytes; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nausea; Remission, Spontaneous; Sex Factors; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Time Factors; Vomiting

Topics: Acute Disease; Amino Sugars; Anemia; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antineoplastic Agents; Blood Cell Count; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Glycosides; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Leukemia; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Leukopenia; Lymphoma; Prednisone; Remission, Spontaneous; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Vincristine

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Alopecia; Antineoplastic Agents; Azaserine; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Diarrhea; Drug Eruptions; Drug Therapy; Geriatrics; Guanine; Leukopenia; Nausea; Neoplasms; Stomatitis; Thioguanine; Thrombocytopenia; Toxicology