FLAG is a Useful Regimen for Poor Prognosis Adult Myeloid Leukaemias and Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Abstract

Forty patients, with mainly poor risk haematological malignancies, were given the new regimen FLAG, comprising fludarabine, arabinosyl cytosine and G-CSF. Twenty four patients had acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), 8 patients myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and a further 8 patients had a variety of other haematological malignancies. The response rates for 19 relapsed and 4 refractory AML patients were 68% and 100% respectively and comparable to those attained using other regimens, although the numbers are small. Of 8 patients with MDS, 7 showed some response with 4 remaining in an improved disease status 5–12 months after FLAG. Follow-up has been too short thus far to provide any survival data in both patient groups. In general, the other smaller group of 8 patients (3 transformed chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), 3 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), 2 granulocytic sarcoma (GS) did poorly with response shown in 1 only. The regimen was well tolerated with 4 procedure-related neutropenic deaths. The neutropenic and thrombocytopenic periods are generally short when compared with those from current protocols. The overall modest toxicity may encourage combination with other anti-leukaemic agents and be of particular use in the aged or heavily pre-treated patients. Preliminary results may favour the setting up of controlled trials to properly evaluate the benefit of FLAG.