7067 Background: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) protocol in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: A total of fifty-two elderly patients were enrolled. Twenty-eight patients were male, and 24 were female, with ages ranging from 60 to 81 years (median, 65 years). Complete remission (CR) had not been achieved in five patients after 2 courses of a standard induction regimen including daunorubicin and cytarabine or an equivalent anthracycline-based regimen. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 40 patients, and unfavourable cytogenetic aberrations were showed in 10 patients. All patients were treated with CAG regimen including low-dose cytarabine (10 mg/m2 per 12 hours, days 1 to 14), aclarubicin (10 mg per day, days 1 to 8), and G-CSF priming (200 μg/m2 per day, days 1 to 14). Results: The overall response rate was 69.2%, and 29 of 52 (55.8%) patients achieved CR, including 23 of 35 (65.8%) patients with previously untreated AML, 6 of 17 (35.2% ) patients with refractory, relapsed and secondary AML, 4 of 9 (44.4%) patients aged over 70 years, 4 of 10 (40.0%) patients with unfavourable cytogenetic aberrations. The early death rate was 7.6%. The median overall survival duration 14 months. Myelosuppression was mild to moderate, severe nonhematologic toxicity was not observed. Conclusions: CAG priming regimen as the induction therapy is well tolerable and effective in elderly patients with AML. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
TREATMENT WITH LOW-DOSE CYTARABINE IN ELDERLY PATIENTS (AGE 70 YEARS OR OLDER) WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA: A SINGLE INSTITUTION EXPERIENCE
