Two lower-intensity regimes for newly diagnosed AML in elderly patients

Intensive chemotherapy for newly diagnosed AML in elderly patients is associated with treatment intolerance and poor survival. A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) evaluated two new lower-intensity regimens with clorafarabine or cladribine combined with low-dose cytarabine alternating with decitabine for newly diagnosed AML in patients with a median age of 69 years (range 49-85; 41% 70 years or older). Complete remission was seen in 66% and complete remission with incomplete count recovery in 7%. Median relapse-free and overall survival were 10.8 months and 12.5 months, with better outcomes in patients with normal karyotype.