Outcome of adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia after second salvage therapy

BACKGROUND.

The outcome of adults with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) who undergo second salvage therapy has been characterized poorly. This is important with regard to investigational approaches aimed at helping this subset of patients. The objectives of the current study were to predict outcomes and determine the prognostic factors associated with second salvage therapy in patients with ALL.

METHODS.

In this study, 288 patients were analyzed who received second salvage therapy for ALL at the authors' institution.

RESULTS.

Overall, 53 patients (18%) achieved a complete response (CR). The median remission duration was 7 months and the median survival was 3 months. In multivariate analysis, prognostic factors that were associated independently with achieving CR were duration of first CR and platelet count. Patients with a first CR <36 months and platelet counts <50 × 10⁹/L had an expected CR rate of 7%. In multivariate analysis, prognostic factors that were associated independently with survival were duration of first CR, percentage bone marrow blasts, platelet count, and albumin level. The expected 12‐month survival rates for patients with 0 or 1, 2, 3, or 4 adverse factors were 33%, 14%, 8%, and 0%, respectively. A repeat multivariate analysis using landmark assessment at 6 weeks selected achievement of CR as adding significantly to the survival benefit (P = .0001; hazard ratio, 0.51). Only 22 patients (8%) were able to undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation as second salvage therapy, and their 1‐year survival rate was 18%.

CONCLUSIONS.

The outcome of adults with ALL undergoing second salvage therapy is poor. Novel effective therapies against ALL are needed in this subset of patients. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.     

Response to salvage therapy and survival after relapse in acute myelogenous leukemia

The response to and survival following first salvage therapy regimens for 243 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) treated between 1974 and 1985 were evaluated. Eighty (33%) patients obtained a complete remission (CR), 24% died prior to achieving a response, and 43% were resistant on their first salvage regimen. The median survival was 18 weeks. Five percent overall and 16% of the CR patients are predicted to survive for more than 5 years. The factor most strongly associated with response and survival was the duration of the initial remission with 49 of 82 (60%) patients whose initial CR duration was at least 1 year in duration obtaining a second CR v 31 of 161 (19%) for patients with a shorter remission (P less than .01). Age, liver function, serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), karyotype, and the proportion of blasts plus promyelocytes present at the time of starting salvage therapy were strongly associated with probability of response and survival. Multivariate analysis was used to develop logistic regression and proportional hazard models to predict probability of response and survival, respectively. The major regimens used were conventional-dose cytarabine (ara-C) (combined with anthracyclines or amsacrine), high-dose ara-C, rubidazone, amsacrine (AMSA), other anthracyclines, and autologous or allogeneic transplant programs. After allowing for the prognostic factors in the models, specific treatment regimens were not strongly associated with prognosis.     

Mitoxantrone and prolonged infusion gemcitabine as salvage therapy in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia

In a recent phase I study, a combination of gemcitabine at 10 mg/(m(2)min) for 12 h and mitoxantrone 12 mg/m(2) daily for 3 days, achieved a complete remission (CR) in 3 of 12 (25%) patients with refractory leukemia. A pilot assessment of this regimen was conducted to determine its tolerability in patients with refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a cohort of 18 patients with very refractory disease (6 primary refractory, 12 relapsed, mean initial CR duration 3.5 months), one patient achieved a CR, a second CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp). Sepsis and mucositis were significant extramedullary toxicities. The gemcitabine and mitoxantrone regimen was feasible to administer even in heavily pre-treated patients. It was not active in patients who had failed a prior salvage regimen. It may warrant further study in patients with primary resistant AML.     

Antibody therapy of acute myelogenous leukemia

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have become an important modality for cancer therapy. A genetically engineered, humanized anti-CD33 antibody HuM195 has demonstrated activity against over relapsed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and against minimal residual disease in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Radioimmunotherapy with beta (beta) particle-emitting isotopes has produced significant responses while minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissues in both nonmyeloablative and myeloablative regimens. Targeted alpha (alpha) particle therapy with 213Bi-labeled HuM195 offers the possibility of more selective tumor cell kill. Additionally, directed chemotherapy using an anti-CD33-calicheamicin conjugate (CMA-676) has produced remissions in patients with relapsed AML.     

Short-term therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia

Since 1978, 187 patients (age range, 15 to 59, median 44 years) have received short-term chemotherapy as part of three sequential open studies (B-IX, X, Xb) or a randomized clinical trial (B-XI). An intended six cycles of Adriamycin (ADR) (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), cytarabine (ara-C), and thioguanine (TG) were administered with as short an intercycle time as possible. No further therapy was administered. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 118 of 187 patients (63%). On univariate and multivariate analyses achievement of CR correlated adversely with a low serum albumin at presentation and an antecedent marrow disorder. Forty-five patients continue in first remission between 15 months and 8 1/2 years, no relapses being seen after 3 1/2 years (median follow-up, 3 1/2 years). The median duration of remission was 1 year. M3 morphology, a blast count less than 100 x 10(9)/L, and absence of hepatosplenomegaly correlated favorably with remission duration. There was no difference in duration of remission between patients receiving 3, 4, 5, or 6 cycles. The best results overall were achieved in patients under the age of 40, with 43% projected to remain free of disease at 5 years. Fifty patients remain alive between 17 months and 9 years, the predicted actuarial survival being 25% at 5 years.     

Low-dose ara-C therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia in elderly patients

Forty-four evaluable patients with untreated acute myelogenous leukemia received twice-daily subcutaneous injections of low-dose ara-C (10 mg/m2) for less than or equal to 42 days. The median age was 72 years (range 53-87); 42 of 44 patients were greater than or equal to age 60. Ten patients (23%) had complete responses with a median duration of 9.9 months. Median survival was 3 months (range 0.6-31.2+) for all patients, and 19.5 (range 7.9-31.2+) for patients who attained complete responses. Cytoreduction occurred slowly with low-dose ara-C and five of ten patients who achieved complete remission did not develop marrow aplasia. Toxicity was predominantly related to infections associated with granulocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicity was limited. Low-dose ara-C as used in this trial results in a complete response rate and a duration of response similar to those achieved with other treatments in elderly patients, but with reduced toxicity.     

Imatinib therapy for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic disorder caused by the reciprocal translocation between chromosome 9 and 22. As a result of this translocation, a novel fusion gene, BCR-ABL, is created on Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, and the constitutive activity of the BCR-ABL protein tyrosine kinase plays a critical role in the disease pathogenesis. Imatinib mesylate, a selective BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was first given to a patient with CML in June 1998. Since then, it has continued to demonstrate remarkable efficacy in treating patients with CML. Based upon the results of early phase I and II studies, a phase III study (IRIS Study) that was randomized to first-line imatinib (400 mg/day) or to standard treatment with interferon+low-dose Ara-C, was conducted on 1,106 patients newly diagnosed (within 6 months) with chronic-phase CML. After median follow-up of 30 months, imatinib showed significantly superior tolerability, hematologic and cytogenetic responses (major cytogenetic response, 90%; complete cytogenetic response, 82%), and overall survival (95% without censoring allo-HSCT). Although imatinib is the first-line therapy and has changed the paradigm of CML treatment strategy, questions remain as to the meaning of cytogenetic and molecular response, curability, optimal dose, and relation with allo-HSCT.     

Recent developments in acute myelogenous leukemia therapy

Recent progress has been made in several areas in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): prognostic factors, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, and new and targeted therapies. Delineation and clarification of prognostic factors have led to improved risk determination, with research moving from cytogenetics to an examination of molecular markers. Trends in the area of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation include broad adoption of reduced-intensity conditioning despite the lack of prospective comparative studies. Although the preponderance of data has established this as a feasible option, a true understanding of how much of an advantage it conveys needs to be established in prospective studies. The use of alternative donors is another advance, and recent data are promising, but survival is poor if transplantation is performed when disease is active, especially during refractory relapse or refractory disease. When haploidentical matched donors are used, survival rates appear similar to those reported with matched unrelated-donor transplants. Analysis of the data for allogeneic transplantation shows that HLA-identical sibling transplants to patients in the first complete remission (CR1) provide the highest probability of long-term survival, compared with HLA-identical sibling transplants to patients in later remissions. Similarly, unrelated-donor transplants to high-risk patients in CR1 lead to a greater degree of success than unrelated-donor transplants to patients in CR2 or later remission. Cord blood has also been established as a suitable source for hematopoietic transplantation in AML. A third area of recent progress involves new and targeted therapies. Multiple new agents with tremendous potential are in development and clinical trials. Therapy can even be tailored to several specific genetic subtypes of AML.     

Outcome of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia post-imatinib mesylate failure

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after failure of imatinib mesylate therapy is not well documented. METHODS: The outcome of 420 patients with CML post-imatinib failure (resistance-recurrence in 374; toxicities in 46) were reviewed in relation to survival, overall, and by different therapies. RESULTS: The estimated 3-year survival rates were 72% in 88 patients who progressed in chronic phase, 30% in 130 patients who progressed in accelerated phase, 7% in 156 patients who progressed in blastic phase, and 75% in 37 patients in chronic phase with imatinib intolerance. Survival in chronic phase was better when subsequent therapy was nilotinib or dasatinib vs allogeneic stem cell transplant vs others (estimated 2-year survival rates 100% vs 72% vs 67%; P = .01), but not in accelerated-blastic phase. CONCLUSIONS: Prognosis post-imatinib failure in chronic phase is reasonable; it is poor if the CML phase post-imatinib failure is accelerated or blastic.     

中剂量阿糖胞苷用于老年急性髓系白血病患者巩固强化治疗的临床观察

目的 分析初治老年急性髓系白血病(AML)患者诱导缓解后应用中剂量阿糖胞苷(MDAC)巩固治疗的临床效果及不良反应.方法 61例2个疗程内达完全缓解(CR)的老年AML(M3除外)患者,分别应用MDAC和常规剂量阿糖胞苷(SDAC)进行巩固强化治疗,对其临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 MDAC组26例,SDAC组35例,MDAC组与SDAC组的无复发生存(RFS)时间分别为42.7和16.0个月(P=0.002),总生存(OS)时间分别为44.6和18.2个月(P=0.004),累积复发率分别为26.9%(7/26)和54.3%(19/35)(x2=4.567,P=0.033),3年生存率分别为23.1%(6/26)和8.6%(3/35)(x2=2.496,P=0.114).两组不良反应发生率差异均无统计学意义(均P>0.05).结论 老年AML患者应用MDAC巩固强化治疗,可延长早期达CR患者的RFS及OS时间,不良反应发生率与SDAC相似.     

Financial analysis of patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia on protocol or standard therapy

BACKGROUND: Medicare and third-party payers may be reluctant to pay for investigational (protocol) therapy for patients with cancer on the premise that such treatment is more expensive than standard therapy. However, prior studies that have attempted to compare protocol therapy with standard therapy have been difficult to interpret because of the assortment of malignancies studied and the lack of suitable control groups of patients who received standard therapy. METHODS: In the current study, the authors conducted a retrospective review of the financial charges associated with protocol or nonprotocol (standard) chemotherapy in patients with a single malignancy, newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), who received their initial course of chemotherapy ("induction") at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1996 and 1999. Protocol and nonprotocol groups were analyzed according to clinical characteristics and standard prognostic features to determine whether the two groups were comparable. Median charges for all patients were determined using a database that linked clinical information, financial data, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 353 patients with newly diagnosed AML were registered at MSKCC during the time period studied; of these, 79 patients (22%) received all of their care at the institution. Thirty patients (38%) received treatment on an investigational protocol. Forty-nine patients (62%) did not receive protocol therapy for the following reasons: 10 patients (20%) did not meet eligibility criteria, 4 patients (8%) were eligible for protocol therapy but declined, and 35 patients (71%) met protocol criteria but were not offered protocol therapy based on the judgment of their primary oncologist. The groups were not comparable because patients treated with standard therapy were older and had a poorer initial Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Overall median charges for patients in the nonprotocol group were higher than for patients treated on a protocol although charges were not related to age, initial ECOG performance status, or cytogenetic risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Although charges for the nonprotocol group were higher, specific factors responsible for this difference were not identified. This study emphasizes the problems inherent in assembling suitable groups of patients for comparison.     

Clofarabine combinations as acute myeloid leukemia salvage therapy

BACKGROUND.

Outcome of patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unsatisfactory. Clofarabine is a nucleoside analog with activity in adult AML. Combinations with cytarabine in AML are feasible and effective. Idarubicin is another active AML drug, which has not yet been tested with clofarabine.

METHODS.

The authors therefore designed a phase I study of clofarabine ± cytarabine, plus idarubicin. Patients with primary refractory or first‐relapse AML were assigned to either clofarabine plus idarubicin (CI) if previously exposed to cytarabine with a response lasting <12 months, or clofarabine and idarubicin plus cytarabine (CIA) for responses ≥12 months, or if never exposed to cytarabine. A standard “3 + 3” phase 1 design was followed to define maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Forty‐four patients were treated (23 CI; 21 CIA).

RESULTS.

Dose‐limiting toxicities were hyperbilirubinemia and hepatic transaminase elevations for CI‐treated patients in addition to mucositis and diarrhea for CIA‐treated patients. MTD for CI was clofarabine 22.5 mg/m² intravenously daily × 5 and idarubicin 10 mg/m² intravenously daily × 3. MTD for CIA was clofarabine 22.5 mg/m² intravenously × 5, idarubicin 6 mg/m² intravenously × 3, and cytarabine 0.75 g/m² intravenously × 5 days.

CONCLUSIONS.

A phase 2 randomized trial is in process to compare activity between treatment arms. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.     

Tumor-associated humoral cytotoxicity in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia before and after chemotherapy.

Sera of eight unselected adult patients with acute myelogenous leukemia obtained before and after chemotherapy were repeatedly tested for specific complement-dependent cytotoxicity against autochthonous peripheral white blood cells from the acute leukemia stage and from the remission stage, respectively. Complement-dependent cytotas demonstrated in all of the eight patients, while none of three patients' sera were reactive against white blood cells from the remission stage tested in parallel. The cytotoxicity was increased after chemotherapy, also in those patients in whom remission was not achieved.     

Survival after intestinal mucormycosis in acute myelogenous leukemia

A young woman with acute myelocytic leukemia developed acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding immediately after a first remission induction of her leukemia. After the site of bleeding was located in the descending colon, a necrotic bleeding ulcer was resected. Histologic examination of the ulcer established the diagnosis of gastrointestinal mucormycosis. Treatment with amphotericin B was administered because of the high risk of dissemination. The patient has been followed for 9 months with no evidence of relapse of infection. Survival after gastrointestinal mucormycosis in acute leukemia has not previously been reported in the English language literature. Success in managing mucormycosis depends on the adherence to the recommended principles of early aggressive diagnostic measures, excisional surgery, amphotericin B therapy, and control of the underlying predisposing condition.     

Early secondary acute myelogenous leukemia in breast cancer patients after treatment with mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, fluorouracil and radiation therapy

Background:The topoisomerase II-targeted drugs,epipodophyllotoxins and anthracyclines, have been shown to inducetherapy-related AML (t-AML) characterized by a short latency period afterchemotherapy, the absence of prior myelodysplastic syndrome and stereotypedchromosome aberrations. Few reports have been published on patients treatedwith the anthracenedione mitoxantrone which also targets topoisomerase II. Weobserved 10 cases of such t-AML over a 7-year-period in breast cancer patientstreated with mitoxantrone combined with fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide andregional radiotherapy, and in three cases with vindesine. Patients and methods:We retrospectively analyzed patientsreferred to our hospital for AML with a past history of polychemotherapy forbreast cancer, including mitoxantrone, either as adjuvant (8patients)/neoadjuvant (1 patient) therapy or for metastatic disease (1patient). We studied the probability of developing t-AML in a prospectiveseries of 350 patients treated with an adjuvant FNC regimen (mitoxantrone,fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide) and radiation therapy. Results:The median age was 45 years (range 35–67). t-AMLdeveloped 13–36 months (median 16) after beginning chemotherapy forbreast cancer, and 4–28 months (median 10.5) after ending treatment. Asdescribed in t-AML following treatment with epipodophyllotoxins oranthracyclines, we found a majority of FAB M4, M5 and M3 phenotypes (7 of 10),and characteristic karyotype abnormalities that also can be found in denovoAML: breakpoint on chromosome 11q23 (3 patients), inv(16)(p13q22)(2 patients), t(15;17)(q22;q11) (1 patient), t(8;21)(q22;q22) (1 patient) anddel(20q)(q11) (1 patient). The prognosis was poor. All patients died of AMLshortly after diagnosis. Since two patients had been enrolled in a prospectivetrial for the treatment of breast cancer which included 350 patients, theprobability of developing t-AML was calculated to be 0.7% from25–40 months, using the Kaplan–Meier method (95% confidenceinterval (95% CI): 0.1–4.5). Conclusions:The combination of mitoxantrone withcyclophosphamide, fluorouracil, and radiation therapy can induce t-AML, aswith other topoisomerase II-targeted drugs. Despite a low incidence, theprognosis appears to be poor.     

Incidence of secondary acute myelogenous leukemia after treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND. Recent reports of secondary acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) occurring in children previously treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) prompted a review of patients with ALL treated at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute consortium (DFCI) between 1973 and 1987. Seven hundred fifty-two of 779 children treated for ALL entered complete remission. The mean follow-up time for the 752 patients was 4.4 years. Two children had AML develop 12 and 13 months after the diagnosis of ALL, respectively. METHODS. The estimated overall risk of secondary AML was calculated for the patient population as instances per 1000 patient-years of follow-up. This was compared with recent reported cases from another institution. RESULTS. The estimated overall risk of secondary AML was 0.61 instances per 1000 patient-years of follow-up (95% confidence interval: 0.15, 4.4). The difference between the risk of 0.61 among DFCI patients versus previously reported risk of 5.8 among a differently treated group of patients with ALL was statistically significant (P = 0.0008). No epipodophyllotoxin was used in the patients in the DFCI consortium. In contrast, an epipodophyllotoxin was used in 12 of 13 previously reported patients who had secondary AML develop. CONCLUSIONS. The authors concluded that the use of epipodophyllotoxins may be associated with an increased risk of having secondary AML develop in patients with ALL.