Standard induction chemotherapy followed by attenuated consolidation in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia

The benefits of intensive post-remission chemotherapy have not been verified in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To reduce fatal complications caused by intensive post-remission therapy, we performed a prospective phase II multicenter trial of standard induction chemotherapy (‘7+3’ of cytarabine plus daunorubicin), followed by two cycles of attenuated consolidation therapy (‘5+1’ of cytarabine plus daunorubicin) for elderly patients with AML, excluding those with M3. Of the 41 patients enrolled in the study, 24 (58.5%) attained CR. Of these 24, 17 (70.8%) completed both planned cycles of consolidation therapy. After a median follow-up of 566 days (range, 63–1190 days) among surviving patients, 15 relapsed, with an actuarial 3-year disease-free survival rate of 22.5%. There were no fatal complications during consolidation therapy. Actuarial 3-year overall survival was 17.0%. These findings suggest that, when compared with previous findings using more intensive consolidation therapy, attenuated consolidation therapy does not compromise outcomes in elderly AML patients.