Intermediate-dose cytarabine plus mitoxantrone versus standard-dose cytarabine plus daunorubicine for acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients

Abstract

Background

The combination of intermediate-dose cytarabine plus mitoxantrone (IMA) can induce high complete remission rates with acceptable toxicity in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We present the final results of a randomized-controlled trial comparing IMA with the standard 7 + 3 induction regimen consisting of continuous infusion daunorubicin plus cytarabine (DA).

Patients and methods

Patients with newly diagnosed AML >60 years were randomized to receive either intermediate-dose cytarabine (1000 mg/m² BID days 1,3,5,7) plus mitoxantrone (10 mg/m² days 1-3) (IMA) or standard induction therapy with cytarabine (100 mg/m² continuously days 1-7) plus daunorubicin (45 mg/m² days 3-5) (DA). Patients in complete remission after DA received intermediate-dose cytarabine plus amsacrine as consolidation treatment, whereas patients after IMA were consolidated with standard-dose cytarabine plus mitoxantrone.

Results

Between February 2005 and October 2009, 485 patients were randomized; 241 for treatment arm DA and 244 for IMA; 76% of patients were >65 years. The CR rate after DA was 39% (95%-CI; 33-45) versus 55% (95%-CI; 49-61) after IMA (OR 1.89, p=0.001). The six-week early-death rate was 14% in both arms. Relapse-free survival (RFS) curves were superimposable in the first year, but separated afterwards, resulting in 3-year RFS rates of 29% versus 14% in the DA versus IMA arms, respectively (p=0.042). The median OS was 10 months in both arms (p=0.513).

Conclusion

The dose escalation of cytarabine in induction therapy lead to improved remission rates in the elderly AML patients. This did not translate into a survival advantage, most likely due to differences in consolidation treatment. Thus, effective consolidation strategies need to be further explored. In combination with an effective consolidation strategy, the use of intermediate dose cytarabine in induction may improve curative treatment for elderly AML patients.