Efficacy of high-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin in combination with G-CSF regimen compared to intermediate/high-dose cytarabine and standard-dose cytarabine induction regimen for non-remission acute myeloid leukemia

• Published in: Indian journal of cancer Vol. 56; no. 2; pp. 167 - 172
• Main Authors: Lei, Meiqing, Liu, Limin, Wang, Zhiming, Wu, Depei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Acute myelocytic leukemia; Apoptosis; Cancer treatment; Chemotherapy; Comparative analysis; Cytarabine; Cytogenetics; Decitabine; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; High definition television; Leukemia; Mutation; Myeloid leukemia; Patients; Performance evaluation; Toxicity; India; China; re-induction regimen; Acute myeloid leukemia; non-remission; high-dose CAG; induction remission
• DOI: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_392_18
• ISSN: 0019-509X

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with non-remission (NR) after the first cycle of standard induction chemotherapy remain a challenge owing to poor response and tolerance to re-induction regimen. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of three regimens in AML patients refractory to the first course of standard induction regimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The three regimens consisted of (1) High-dose cytarabine, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (HD-CAG) regimen (n = 44); (2) intermediate/high-dose cytarabine (I/HDAC) regimen (n = 30); and (3) standard-dose cytarabine (SDAC) combination regimen that was identical to the first course of standard induction regimen (n = 27). RESULTS: Results indicated that after the second course, the overall response (OR), i.e., complete remission [CR]+partial remission [PR]) rates in HD-CAG was higher than in the I/HDAC group (84.1% vs. 56.7%, P = 0.009), whereas the CR rates among 3 groups were not statistically different (P = 0.541). Meanwhile, the proportion of subjects reporting certain adverse effects in the HD-CAG group was lower than the I/HDAC or SDAC groups. There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates among the 3 groups (P = 0.881 and P = 0.872, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results indicate that HD-CAG regimen may represent a better alternative option for AML patients with NR after the first course of standard induction chemotherapy.