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Journal of Hematology & Oncology

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Open Access 01-12-2009 | Short report

A homoharringtonine-based induction regimen for the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a single center experience from China

Authors: Jianmin Wang, Shuqing Lü, Jianmin Yang, Xianmin Song, Li Chen, Chongmei Huang, Jun Hou, Weiping Zhang

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2009

Abstract

Background and purpose

The response to remission induction in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains poor. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a plant alkaloid, homoharringtonine, in combination with cytarabine as an induction therapy for AML in elderly patients (≥60 years).

Results

Twenty-three patients were treated with the HA regimen consisting of homoharringtonine (2 mg/m²/day for 7 days) and cytarabine (Ara-C, 100 mg/m²/day for 7 days). The overall response rate was 56.5% with complete remission (CR) rate of 39.1% and partial remission of 17.4%. There was no early death in this cohort of patients. The estimated median overall survival (OS) time of all patients was (12.0 ± 3.0) months. The estimated OS time of the CR patients was 15 months. The estimated one-year OS rate of all patients treated with HA protocol was (49.3 ± 13.5) %. The estimated one-year OS rate of the CR patients was (62.5 ± 17.1) %.

Conclusion

HA is a suitable induction regimen for elderly patients with AML, with relatively low toxicity and reasonable response rate.

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Title: A homoharringtonine-based induction regimen for the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia: a single center experience from China
Authors: Jianmin Wang
Shuqing Lü
Jianmin Yang
Xianmin Song
Li Chen
Chongmei Huang
Jun Hou
Weiping Zhang
Publication date: 01-12-2009
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-8722-2-32

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