Enhancing effect of beta-elemene emulsion on chemotherapy with harringtonine, aclacinomycin and Ara-c in treatment of refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

ABSTRACT

This study is to determine the curative effect of beta-elemene emulsion on chemotherapy in the treatment of refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia [AML]. In the beta-elemene emulsion plus HAA chemotherapy [harringtonine, aclacinomycin, Ara-c group] group, 120 cases received beta-elemene emulsion [400 mg] plus the HAA treatment. A 14-day treatment was a course of treatment, followed by an 8-14 day pause, and then the next course of treatment. The HAA treatment included Ara-c, 100 mg/m2, once every 12 h from day 1 to day 7; aclacinomycin, 20 mg/m2, from day 1 to day 7; and homoharringtonine, 4 mg/m2, from day 1 to day 7. The patients in the control HAA group received HAA treatment only. For both groups, effective antibiotics were given to patients when it was necessary. The total effective rate in the beta-elemene emulsion plus HAA group was 80.8%. But the total effective rate in the HAA only group was 52.9%. These results suggest that the beta-elemene emulsion plus HAA treatment has a much better curative effect in comparison with the HAA only treatment [P < 0.05]. Furthermore, beta-elemene emulsion has slightly adverse response, without causing blood and bone marrow depression. Beta-elemene emulsion has a curative effect in treatment of refractory/relapsed AML in combination with harringtonine, aclacinomycin, and Ara-c