Medication Summary

Acute erythroleukemia is treated with the same chemotherapeutic regimens as other acute myelogenous leukemias (AMLs), except the M3 variety (acute promyelocytic leukemia [APL]). Preferably, all patients should be treated in a tertiary referral center.

Class Summary

Antineoplastic agents are used for induction or consolidation therapy. They include cytarabine, daunorubicin, idarubicin, and mitoxantrone.

Cytarabine

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Cytarabine is cell cycle S phase specific. It blocks the progression from G1 to S phase. It is converted intracellularly to the active compound cytarabine-5'-triphosphate, which inhibits DNA polymerase.

Daunorubicin (Cerubidine)

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Daunorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic. It binds to nucleic acids by intercalation between base pairs of DNA, interfering with DNA synthesis. It causes inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II.

Idarubicin (Idamycin PFS)

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Idarubicin inhibits cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA and RNA polymerase.

Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)

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Idarubicin inhibits cell proliferation by inhibiting DNA and RNA polymerase.

Questions

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Media Gallery

Bone marrow aspirate showing erythroblasts in a patient with erythroleukemia. Courtesy of Maurice Barcos, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.

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Author

Beata Holkova, MD Assistant Professor, Massey Cancer Center, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Beata Holkova, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Asher A Chanan-Khan, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Lymphoma and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, State University of New York at Buffalo

Asher A Chanan-Khan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Kenichi Takeshita, MD Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, New York University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Clinical Research and Development, Celgene

Kenichi Takeshita, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Hematology, New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

David Aboulafia, MD Medical Director, Bailey-Boushay House, Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Attending Physician, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Virginia Mason Clinic; Investigator, Virginia Mason Community Clinic Oncology Program/SWOG

David Aboulafia, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, American Society of Hematology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.