Key clinical point: Maintenance therapy with oral azacitidine (oral-AZA) did not compromise on fatigue and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) after intensive chemotherapy (IC).
Major finding: Effects of oral-AZA on fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue: difference in overall least square mean change [ D] −0.89; 95% CI −2.37- 0.59) and HrQoL (EQ-5D-3L health utility index: D −0.01; 95% CI, −0.03-0.01; EQ-5D visual analog: D −0.95; 95% CI, −4.38-2.47) were comparable to placebo.
Study details: Findings are from the QUAZAR AML-001 trial, including 444 patients with AML with intermediate- or poor-risk cytogenetics at diagnosis and unsuitable for transplantation. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral-AZA (n = 225) or placebo (n = 219) in first CR/CRi after IC.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) Company. Some investigators, including the lead author, reported receiving research/personal support or consulting from, being an employee of, and owning equity in various sources, including Celgene and BMS.
Source: Roboz GJ et al. Haematologica. 2021 Sep 23. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2021.279174.