In a nutshell
This study aimed to create a safe and effective low-intensity chemotherapy treatment plan for elderly patients with AML . This is an ongoing clinical trial and so far the authors have found the therapy has been safe and effective.
Some background
Outcomes for elderly patients with AML in the past have not been good due to the high intensity chemotherapy required in treatment. It is important to make these chemotherapy treatment plans less intense, with less unwanted side effects, and improve overall survival in patients.
Methods & findings
118 patients with AML who were over 60 years of age have so far participated in the trial.
The treatment consisted of two 28 day cycles of cladribine with low-dose cytarabine (cycle A) followed by two 28 day cycles of decitabine (cycle B) for 18 cycles.
Induction treatment consisted of cladribine from days 1-5 followed by cytarabine from days 1-10. Those who responded moved onto cycle 1, consisting of cladribine from days 1-3, cytarabine days 1-10 and finally alternating decitabine days 1-5. Those who did not respond to induction therapy could receive a second round.
Patients survived without disease up to 10.8 months after treatment and overall survival was 13.8 months after treatment.
Of all patients involved, 58% achieved complete response (no signs of cancer after treatment) and 68% reported that they felt improvement after treatment.
1% is patients did not survive the first 4 weeks and 7% did not survive the first 8 weeks. The most common side effects were infection (75%), decreased liver function (22%) and rash or nausea (11%).
The bottom line
The findings of this study showed that a low-intesnity chemotherapy treatment plan was safe and effective in elderly patients with AML.
The fine print
This trial is still ongoing.
What’s next?
If you are interested in any of the information found here, please contact your doctor.
Published By :
The Lancet. Haematology
Date :
Aug 13, 2018
