Dual growth factor (Rhtpo + g-csf) and chemotherapy combination regimen for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: A phase ii single-arm multicenter study

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease affecting older adults, although optimal strategies for treating such patients remain unclear. This prospective phase II, openlabel, multicenter study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of two hematologic growth factors, recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) and granulocyte colonystimulating factor (G-CSF), in combination with decitabine, cytarabine, and aclarubicin (D-CTAG regimen) to treat older adults with newly diagnosed AML (Identifier: NCT04168138). The above agents were administered as follows: decitabine (15 mg/m2 daily, days 1–5); low-dose cytarabine (10 mg/m2 q12 h, days 3–9); rhTPO (15,000 U daily, days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10–24 or until >50×109 /L platelets); aclarubicin (14 mg/m2 daily, days 3–6); and G-CSF (300 μg daily, days 2–9). We concurrently monitored historic controls treated with decitabine followed by cytarabine, aclarubicin, and G-CSF (D-CAG) only. After the first D-CTAG cycle, the overall response rate (ORR) was 84.2% (16/19), including 13 (73.7%) complete remissions (CRs) and three (15.8%) partial remissions. This CR rate surpassed that of the D-CAG treatment (p < 0.05). Median overall survival (OS) time in the D-CTAG group was 20.2 months (range, 4–31 months), compared with 14 months in the D-CAG group, and 1-year OS was 78%. The proportion of those experiencing grade III–IV thrombocytopenia was significantly lower for D-CTAG (57.9%) than for D-CAG (88.4%; p < 0.05). Ultimately, the curative effect of adding rhTPO was not inferior to that of D-CAG, and D-CTAG proved safer for elderly patients, especially in terms of hematologic toxicity. A prospective phase III randomized study is warranted to confirm these observations.