Poor post-induction outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia previously treated with hypomethylating agents

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have failed hypomethylating agents (HMA) have a poor prognosis. We examined whether high intensity induction chemotherapy could abrogate negative outcomes in 270 patients with AML or other high-grade myeloid neoplasms. Prior HMA therapy was significantly associated with a lower overall survival (OS) as compared to a reference group of patients with secondary disease without prior HMA therapy (median 7.2 vs 13.1 months). In patients with prior HMA therapy, high intensity induction was associated with a non-significant trend toward longer OS (median 8.2 vs 4.8 months) and decreased rates of treatment failure (39% vs 64%). These results redemonstrate poor outcomes in patients with prior HMA and suggest possible benefit of high intensity induction that should be evaluated in future studies.