Key clinical point: Low-intensity chemotherapy with clofarabine or cladribine and low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) alternating with decitabine was effective and safe for the treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Major finding: Overall, response was observed in 66% of patients, with complete remission (CR) and CR with incomplete count recovery in 59% and 7% of patients, respectively. The 4- and 8-week mortality was low at 2% and 11%, respectively. During median follow-up of 60 months, the median overall survival was 12.5 months.
Study details : This study assessed 248 older patients (median age, 69 years) with newly diagnosed AML who were treated with either clofarabine (n=119) or cladribine (n=129) combined with LDAC alternating with decitabine.
Disclosures: This study was funded by the MD Anderson Cancer Center Support and the Charif Souki Cancer Research Fund. Some investigators including the lead author reported ties with various pharmaceutical companies.
Source: Kadia TM et al. Am J Hematol. 2021 Apr 26. doi: 10.1002/ajh.26206 .