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These Patients with CBF-AML Benefit Most from HMAs
Am J Hematol; 2017 Sep; Ragon, Daver, et al
A subset of patients with core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) appear to derive the most benefit from maintenance hypomethylating agents (HMAs), according to a study involving 23 individuals.
Participants were a median 53 years of age, had CBF-AML, and received HMA therapy following induction/consolidation. Among the results:
- 17 patients had a detectable reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) levels when HMA was started.
- 5 patients had progressive disease and experienced increased RTPCR over 1 to 2 cycles of HMA therapy.
- 12 patients who did not fail HMA had a median RTPCR at HMA initiation of 0.06.
- 11 of these patients had a reduction in RTPCR after the first or second cycle of HMA.
The authors concluded that patients with low RTPCR levels following induction/consolidation chemotherapy derive the most benefit from HMA therapy, especially those whose levels were reduced within the first 2 treatment cycles.
Ragon B, Daver N, Garcia-Manero G, et al. Minimal residual disease eradication with epigenetic therapy in core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia. Am J Hematol. 2017;92(9):845-850. doi:10.1002/ajh.24782.
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