Azacitidine might be beneficial in a subgroup of older AML patients compared to intensive chemotherapy: A single centre retrospective study of 227 consecutive patients

50Citations
Citations of this article
41Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Background: Treatment options in older acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients include intensive chemotherapy, best supportive care (BSC), and hypomethylating agents. Currently, limited data is available on hypomethylating agents in older AML patients in unselected patient populations. Methods. To compare the effectiveness of azacitidine with conventional therapy, we collected data of 227 consecutive AML patients (≥60 years) who were treated with azacitidine (N = 26), intensive chemotherapy (N = 90), or BSC (N = 97). Results: Azacitidine-treated patients were older and had more comorbidities, but lower white blood cell- and bone marrow blast counts compared with intensive chemotherapy patients. Complete or partial response was achieved in 42% of azacitidine-treated patients and in 73% of intensive chemotherapy patients (P = 0.005). However, the overall survival (OS) was similar (1-year-OS 57% versus 56%, P = 0.93; 2-year-OS 35% versus 35%, P = 0.92), and remained similar after correction for risk factors in a multivariate analysis. Patients treated with BSC had an inferior OS (1-year- and 2-year-OS 16% and 2%, P < 0.001). Compared to intensive chemotherapy, azacitidine-treated patients spent less days in the hospital (median in first three months 0.5 versus 56, P < 0.001), and needed less red blood cell and platelet transfusions (median per month 2.7 versus 7, P < 0.001 and 0.3 versus 5, P < 0.001) in the first three months. Conclusions: Azacitidine treatment is associated with a comparable OS but higher tolerability in a subgroup of older AML patients compared with intensive chemotherapy. Patients receiving BSC had a poor prognosis. © 2013 van der Helm et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Van Der Helm, L. H., Scheepers, E. R. M., Veeger, N. J., Daenen, S. M. G. J., Mulder, A. B., Van Den Berg, E., … Huls, G. (2013). Azacitidine might be beneficial in a subgroup of older AML patients compared to intensive chemotherapy: A single centre retrospective study of 227 consecutive patients. Journal of Hematology and Oncology, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-8722-6-29

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free