The outcome of intensive induction therapy in patients ⩾70 years with acute myeloid leukemia

Mayo Clinic experience with 1123 adults with acute myeloid leukemia

Between 2004 and 2017, a total of 1123 adult patients (median age 65 years; 61% males) with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), not including acute promyelocytic leukemia, were seen at the Mayo Clinic. Treatment included intensive (n = 766) or lower intensity (n = 144) chemotherapy or supportive care (n = 213), with respective median survivals of 22, 9, and 2 months (p < 0.01). Intensive chemotherapy resulted in complete remission (CR) and CR with incomplete count recovery (CRi) rates of 44 and 33%, respectively, with no difference in survival outcome between the two (p = 0.4). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) was documented in 259 patients and provided the best survival rate (median 55 months; p < 0.01). After a median follow-up of 13 months, 841 (75%) deaths were recorded. Multivariate analysis identified age >60 years (HR 2.2, 1.9-2.6), adverse karyotype (HR 2.9, 1.9-4.9), intermediate-risk karyotype (HR 1.6, 1.02-2.6), post-myeloproliferative neoplasm AML (HR 1.9, 1.5-2.4), and other secondary AML (HR 1.3 (1.1-1.6) as risk factors for shortened survival. These risk factors retained their significance after inclusion of FLT3/NPM1 mutational status in 392 informative cases: FLT3+NPM1- (HR 2.8, 1.4-5.6), FLT3+/NPM+ (HR 2.6 (1.3-5.2), and FLT3-NPM1- (HR 1.8, 1.0-3.0).

Benchmarking treatment effects for patients over 70 with acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are aged 70 and over. However, there is uncertainty about how and whether older patients with AML should receive cytotoxic treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medline and Cochrane library search was performed for studies in newly diagnosed AML which enrolled at least 20 patients per arm (for randomized controlled trials), or 50 patients (for non-randomized studies) over the age of 70. References were hand searched for additional eligible studies. Study investigators were contacted to maximize relevant data. Dual independent data extraction was done using standardized data collection forms. Data was collected on study and treatment characteristics, baseline patient information, and outcomes. Study methodological quality was assessed. The primary outcome was 1 year overall survival (OS). Impact of treatment [intensive chemotherapy (INT), low-dose chemotherapy (LOW), hypomethylating agents (HMA), or best supportive care (BSC)], cytogenetics, performance status, and comorbidity were assessed.

RESULTS

The search produced 11,846 references of which 38 randomized controlled trials and 30 non-randomized studies met inclusion criteria, representing 13,381 patients, with a worldwide distribution. One-year OS with INT was 37% (31-42%), with LOW 11% (6-18%), with HMA 35% (18-54%) and with BSC 17%(13-21%). Two-year OS was 22% (18-26%), 11% (7-15%), 22% (16-28%), 6% (2-12%), respectively. We present subgroup data based on the studies including cytogenetics, performance status, and comorbidity. Formal direct comparisons with adjustment for all prognostic factors were not possible.

CONCLUSIONS

In this largest to date series of AML patients aged 70 and older, we provide benchmarks for treatment efficacy and effectiveness that may be used for decision analysis models and for the future development of clinical trials focusing on these patients.

Quality of life issues in elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients

The median age of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is 70 years. Treatment approaches include standard chemotherapy, palliative chemotherapy and investigational agents, depending upon disease biology and patient factors. In this article, we highlight the issues involved in the treatment of AML in older patients, focusing on the quality of life changes associated with each treatment modality at different stages of their disease course. We further discuss recent insights into the biological basis of quality of life changes, and examine potential ways to improve these through pharmacological and nonpharmacological means. Finally, we explore avenues for future research into the quality of life of the older AML patient.