Non-infusional vs intravenous consolidation chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: final results of the EORTC-GIMEMA AML-13 randomized phase III trial

Phase I study of ADI-PEG20 plus low-dose cytarabine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

Most acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells are argininosuccinate synthetase‐deficient. Pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI‐PEG20) monotherapy depletes circulating arginine, thereby selectively inducing tumor cell death. ADI‐PEG20 was shown to induce complete responses in ~10% of relapsed/refractory or poor‐risk AML patients. We conducted a phase I, dose‐escalation study combining ADI‐PEG20 and low‐dose cytarabine (LDC) in AML patients. Patients received 20 mg LDC subcutaneously twice daily for 10 days every 28 days and ADI‐PEG20 at 18 or 36 mg/m² (dose levels 1 and 2) intramuscularly weekly. An expansion cohort for the maximal tolerated dose of ADI‐PEG20 was planned to further estimate the toxicity and preliminary response of this regimen. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. The secondary endpoints were time on treatment, overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), and biomarkers (pharmacodynamics and immunogenicity detection). Twenty‐three patients were included in the study, and seventeen patients were in the expansion cohort (dose level 2). No patients developed dose‐limiting toxicities. The most common grade III/IV toxicities were thrombocytopenia (61%), anemia (52%), and neutropenia (30%). One had an allergic reaction to ADI‐PEG20. The ORR in 18 evaluable patients was 44.4%, with a median OS of 8.0 (4.5‐not reached) months. In seven treatment‐naïve patients, the ORR was 71.4% and the complete remission rate was 57.1%. The ADI‐PEG20 and LDC combination was well‐tolerated and resulted in an encouraging ORR. Further combination studies are warranted. (This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov as a Ph1 Study of ADI‐PEG20 Plus Low‐Dose Cytarabine in Older Patients With AML, NCT02875093).

Survival Improvement over Time of 960 s-AML Patients Included in 13 EORTC-GIMEMA-HOVON Trials

Simple Summary

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (s-AML) refers to the development of AML following myelodysplatic syndrome or other hematological malignancies, or after a solid tumors, or nonmalignant diseases or following exposure to environmental or occupational carcinogens. Here, we report data from 960 s-AML patients who were treated in 13 EORTC collaborative trials conducted between May 1986 and January 2008. The main aims of our study were (1) to assess whether overall survival of s-AML patients improved over time, (2) to identify initial disease features associated with overall survival. We observed that overall survival of younger patients improved over the years, in parallel with introduction of high-dose cytarabine in induction remission chemotherapy. This suggests that this strategy should be further investigated in younger patients with s-AML. Furthermore, this study confirmed that the sAML patients having adverse cytogenetic risk features and those with high white blood cells at diagnosis had a dismal survival, regardless of their age group.

Abstract

We report the outcomes of secondary acute myeloid leukemia (s-AML) patients included in one of 13 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) collaborative AML trials using intensive remission-induction chemotherapy. Among 8858 patients treated between May 1986 and January 2008, 960 were identified as having s-AML, either after MDS (cohort A; n = 508), occurring after primary solid tumors or hematologic malignancies other than MDS (cohort B; n = 361), or after non-malignant conditions or with a history of toxic exposure (cohort C; n = 91). Median age was 64 years, 60 years and 61 years in cohort A, B and C, respectively. Among patients ≤60 years and classified in the cohorts A or B (n = 367), the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 28%. There was a systematic improvement in the 5-year OS rate over three time periods (p < 0.001): 7.7% (95% CI: 1.3–21.7%) for patients treated before 1990 (period 1: n = 26), 23.3% (95% CI: 17.1–30.0%) for those treated between 1990 and 2000 (period 2: n = 188) and 36.5% (95% CI: 28.7–44.3%) for those treated in 2000 or later (period 3: n = 153). In multivariate analysis, male gender (HR = 1.39; p = 0.01), WBC ≥ 25 × 10⁹/L (HR = 2.00; p < 0.0001), age 46-60 years (HR = 1.65; p < 0.001) and poor-risk cytogenetics (HR = 2.17; p < 0.0001) were independently associated with shorter OS, while being treated during period 2 (HR = 0.50, p = 0.003) or period 3 (HR = 0.43; p = 0.0008). Having received high-dose cytarabine (HD-AraC) (n = 48) in the induction chemotherapy (HR = 0.54, p = 0.012) was associated with a longer OS. In contrast, among patients >60 years of age (n = 502), the OS was dismal, and there was no improvement over time.

A Phase II Study of Arginine Deiminase (ADI-PEG20) in Relapsed/Refractory or Poor-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Exogenous arginine is required for growth in some argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS)-deficient cancers. Arginine deiminase (ADI) inhibits growth in various ASS-deficient cancers by depleting arginine. The efficacy of pegylated ADI (ADI-PEG20) in relapsed/refractory/poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was evaluated in 43 patients in a prospective, phase II trial (NCT01910012 (10/07/2013), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01910012?term = ADI-PEG20&rank = 12). Despite almost all pre-treatment tumor samples showing ASS deficiency, the best response among 21 evaluable patients was complete response (CR) in 2 (9.5%) and stable disease in 7 (33.3%), yielding a disease control rate (DCR) of 42.9%. The response durations of the two patients with CR were 7.5 and 8.8 months. DCR was correlated with a median of 8 weeks of arginine depletion to ≤10 μM. Using whole transcriptome sequencing, we compared gene expression profiling of pre- and post-treatment bone marrow samples of the two responders and three non-responders. The expression levels of some markers for AML subtypes and c-MYC regulated genes were considered potential predictors of response to ADI-PEG20. These results suggest that ASS deficiency is a prerequisite but not a sufficient condition for response to ADI-PEG20 monotherapy in AML. Predictive biomarkers and mechanistic explorations will be critical for identifying appropriate patients for future AML trials of ADI-PEG20.

Acute myeloid leukemia in the elderly

SUMMARY Acute myeloid leukemia in older patients is of poor outcome, characterized by a specific biology of acute myeloid leukemia and factors related to the patient’s physical condition. Aggressive therapy results in improved survival and quality of life when compared with palliative care. However, not all patients are candidates for such therapy. Disease often demonstrates resistance related to poor-risk cytogenetics, and patients are often unable to tolerate intensive chemotherapy. For those patients, novel agents are being investigated. Understanding of the disease biology, as well as the prognostic factors associated with the host, allows the better estimation of which patients are likely to benefit from standard therapy and which require alternative approaches.

Combination treatment of flag with non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (MYOCET(TM)) in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a single center experience

The incidence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) increases with age, but results of intensive chemotherapy in elderly patients are disappointing. Non-pegylated liposomal formulations of doxorubicin (Myocet™) have been developed with the aim of reducing systemic and cardiac toxicity especially in the elderly. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity profiles of fludarabine, cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (FLAG) regimen given in association with Myocet™ in 35 patients with AML, median age 69 years (range 61-83 years). Nineteen (54.3%) had newly-diagnosed AML, twelve (34.3%) patients had secondary AML (ten with Myelodisplastic Syndrome, two with Primary Myelofibrosis) and 4 (11.4%) patients had had a late relapse (>12 months) of AML. Complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR) were obtained in twenty-two (63%) and 3 (8.5%) patients, respectively. Seven (20%) patients showed a resistant disease. There were 3 early deaths (8.5%). Six patients (17%) experienced severe cardiovascular toxicity. The median overall survival (OS) was 12 months (range 1-52 months) with a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 20 months (range 1-48 months). One-year and two-year DFS were 78.9% and 26.7%, respectively. This study demonstrates that in elderly patients with AML, FLAG-Myocet combination shows promising efficacy response with acceptable toxicity, enabling most patients to receive further treatments, including transplantation procedures.

Posaconazole prophylaxis during front-line chemotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia: a single-center, real-life experience

BACKGROUND

Posaconazole is effective as primary antifungal prophylaxis of invasive fungal diseases in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The impact of primary antifungal prophylaxis administered during front-line chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia was evaluated by comparing 58 patients who received oral amphotericin B (control group) to 99 patients who received oral posaconazole (posaconazole group). The primary endpoint was the incidence of proven/probable invasive fungal diseases. Secondary endpoints included incidence of invasive aspergillosis, survival at 4 and 12 months after the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia and costs.

RESULTS

Proven/probable invasive fungal diseases were documented in 51.7% of patients in the control group and in 23.2% in the posaconazole group (P=0.0002). Invasive aspergillosis was documented in 43% of patients in the control group and in 15% in the posaconazole group (P=0.002). No survival difference was observed in patients aged over 60 years. In patients aged 60 years or less, a statistically significant survival advantage was observed at 4 months, but no longer at 12 months, in the posaconazole group (P=0.03). It was calculated that in the posaconazole group there was a mean 50% cost reduction for the antifungal drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary antifungal prophylaxis with posaconazole during front-line chemotherapy was effective in preventing invasive fungal diseases in a "real-life" scenario of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, resulted in an early but transitory survival advantage in younger patients and was economically advantageous.

Treating the elderly patient with acute myelogenous leukemia

Decisions regarding the optimal treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia in the elderly patient requires the consideration of multiple factors. Population-based studies have demonstrated that, for all age groups, aggressive therapy results in improved survival and quality of life when compared with palliative care. The optimal induction and postremission regimen for older patients has yet to be determined. Furthermore, not all patients are candidates for such therapy. Consideration of patient and disease-related factors can help to determine the appropriateness of intensive therapy in a given patient. For those patients for whom aggressive induction therapy does not seem to be in their best interest, novel agents are being investigated that will hopefully address the issues of induction death and early relapse associated with these patient populations.

Acute myeloid leukemia with translocation (8;21) or inversion (16) in elderly patients treated with conventional chemotherapy: a collaborative study of the French CBF-AML intergroup

PURPOSE

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with translocation (t) (8;21) or inversion (inv) (16) is associated with a favorable prognosis when treated with intensive chemotherapy. In elderly patients, these AML types are rare, and intensive treatments are much less tolerated. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of AML with t(8;21) or inv(16) in the elderly.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with t(8;21) or inv(16) AML who were age 60 years or older and who received at least one course of induction chemotherapy were included. Postremission therapy consisted of low-dose maintenance chemotherapy (n = 72) or intensive consolidation (n = 56).

RESULTS

A total of 147 patients were analyzed. The median age was 67 years. Sixty patients had t(8;21), and 87 patients had inv(16). A total of 129 patients achieved complete response (CR) after one or two induction courses (ie, 88% CR rate), and 15 patients (10%) died early (ie, during the 8 weeks after induction). During a median follow-up of 48 months, the 5-year probabilities of overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were 31% and 27%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed a negative impact of high WBC, impaired performance status, and deletion (9q) on OS and LFS. Administration of intensive consolidation was associated with better LFS only in patients with t(8;21). In addition, the need for critical care during induction independently predicted lower LFS.

CONCLUSION

Because of a high CR rate, induction chemotherapy should be considered systematically for elderly patients who have AML with t(8;21) or inv(16). The high risk of relapse suggests that alternative strategies of postremission therapy are warranted.

Liposomal daunorubicin versus standard daunorubicin: long term follow-up of the GIMEMA GSI 103 AMLE randomized trial in patients older than 60 years with acute myelogenous leukaemia

This randomized phase III clinical trial explored the efficacy of DaunoXome (DNX) versus Daunorubicin (DNR) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients aged >60 years. Three hundred and one AML patients were randomized to receive DNR (45 mg/m(2) days 1-3) or DNX (80 mg/m(2) days 1-3) plus cytarabine (AraC; 100 mg/m(2) days 1-7). Patients in complete remission (CR) received a course of the same drugs as consolidation and then were randomized for maintenance with AraC+ all trans retinoic acid or no further treatment. Among 153 patients in the DNR arm, 78 (51.0%) achieved CR, 55 (35.9%) were resistant and 20 (13.1%) died during induction. Among 148 patients in the DNX arm, 73 (49.3%) achieved CR, 47 (31.8%) were resistant and 28 (18.9%) died during induction. Univariate analysis showed no difference as to induction results. After CR, DNX showed a higher incidence of early deaths (12.5% vs. 2.6% at 6 months, P = 0.053) but a lower incidence of relapse beyond 6 months (59% vs. 78% at 24 months, P = 0.064), with a cross in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) curves and a later advantage for DNX arm after 12 months from diagnosis. DNX seems to improve OS and DFS in the long-term follow-up, because of a reduction in late relapses.

Low-dose interleukin-2 immunotherapy does not improve outcome of patients age 60 years and older with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission: Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study 9720

PURPOSE

Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 9720 evaluated subcutaneous low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) maintenance immunotherapy as a strategy for prolonging remission in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

AML patients age 60 years and older in first complete remission after induction and consolidation chemotherapy were randomly assigned to no further therapy or a 90-day regimen of 14-day cycles of low-dose rIL-2, aimed at expanding natural killer (NK) cells, followed by 3-day higher doses aimed at activating cytotoxicity of expanded NK cells to lyse residual AML cells. All randomly assigned patients were included in an intention-to-treat analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 163 (64%) of 254 patients who completed induction and consolidation chemotherapy on CALGB 9720 were randomly assigned to rIL-2 (n = 81) or no further therapy (n = 82); the most common reasons for lack of random assignment were patient refusal and relapse. Fifteen patients randomly assigned to rIL-2 never initiated it because of refusal, intercurrent medical problems, or relapse, and 24 patients initiated rIL-2 but stopped early because of toxicity or relapse. Grade 4 toxicities during rIL-2 therapy included thrombocytopenia (65%) and neutropenia (64%), and grade 3 toxicities included anemia (33%), infection (24%) and malaise/fatigue (14%). Forty-two patients (52%) randomly assigned to rIL-2 completed the full 90-day course. Patients in both arms had similar distributions of both disease-free (combined median = 6.1 months; P = .47) and overall survival (combined median = 14.7 months; P = .61) after random assignment. Moreover, the 42 patients who completed all planned therapy did not show prolongation of disease-free or overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Low-dose rIL-2 maintenance immunotherapy is not a successful strategy in older AML patients.

Induction therapy for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease of older adults. Efforts to intensify therapy along traditional avenues have failed to yield improved results. There remains significant clinical equipoise as to how to "induce" patients and whether or not 7+3-style regimens improve outcomes over low-dose cytarabine. What is certain is that even in those not receiving active therapy, AML is an exceptionally morbid disease. Diverse interventions are being explored in the management of older patients with AML and the currently available data will be reviewed.

Granulocytic sarcoma of Core-binding Factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia mimicking pancreatic cancer

Granulocytic sarcoma mimicking a synchronous second primary neoplasm (SPN) constitutes a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge particularly in elderly patients. We report on a 75-year-old female presenting with a Core-binding Factor (CBF) AML of M4eo subtype. The patient also had jaundice, highly elevated bilirubin, lipase, alkaline phosphatase (AP), CA 19-9, and a pancreatic mass highly suspicious of infiltrating pancreatic carcinoma. However, a biopsy demonstrated granulocytic sarcoma. Since the patient had no comorbidities and had been in excellent performance status until the diagnosis of AML, induction chemotherapy was initiated, with subsequent normalization of bilirubin, CA 19-9, lipase and AP. Complete hematologic remission of AML was attained and the pancreatic mass could not be detected anymore. Retrospective analysis of the c-kit protooncogene did not disclose activating mutations of exons 8 or 17. Following one consolidation treatment, the patient remained in excellent health until relapse occurred 7 months later and she succumbed to AML. In conclusion, AML can rarely mimic the clinical picture of pancreatic cancer. The initially good response of this CBF leukemia highlights the principal usefulness of aggressive induction chemotherapy also in older AML patients, if they are carefully selected not only according to biological risk factors such as cytogenetics, but also to "host factors" (good performance status, lack of comorbidities, etc.).

Treatment of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia

In recent years, major advances have been made in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in younger patients, but the prognosis for elderly AML patients remains poor. This review focuses on current and emerging data on the treatment of AML in the elderly. Most elderly patients are not considered for induction therapy. Cytarabine and anthracycline combination therapies induce remission in up to 50% of cases of newly diagnosed AML, and the median survival duration ranges between 5 and 10 months. Targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies (gemtuzumab ozogamicin), farnesyltransferase inhibitors (tipifarnib), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (lestaurtinib) and hypomethylating agents (decitabine and valproic acid) are being investigated in elderly patients with AML. Autologous and reduced-intensity allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been used in selected patients.