Effect of postremission high dose cytarabine-based consolidation chemotherapy before allogenic stem cell transplantation in outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

This is a retrospective study aiming to investigate the effect of the number of high dose cytarabine-based chemotherapy (HiDAC) courses in patients with acute myeloid leukemia before allogenic stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 110 patients with acute myeloid leukemia who received ASCT between 2001 and 2018 were included in the study.

RESULTS

Of the 110 patients, 25 (23%) patients received one course of HiDAC, 42 (38%) patients received two courses of HiDAC, 34 (31%) patients received three courses of HiDAC and 9 (8%) patients received four courses of HiDAC. Median follow-up for survivors was 71 months (range 4-186) for all patients. The 3-year overall survival for patients who received one course of HiDAC and patients who received more than one course of HiDAC were 49% and 70%, respectively (p = 0.29). The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) for patients who received one course of HiDAC and patients who received more than one course of HiDAC were 38% and 66%, respectively (p = 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in OS between patients who received one or more than one consolidation chemotherapy. But there was nearly a statistically significant difference between patients who received one or more than one consolidation chemotherapy in DFS.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the administration of more than one consolidation chemotherapy may provide longer DFS, however the number of consolidation chemotherapy is not associated with statistically significant differences in overall outcomes.