Inducing therapy of cytarabine combined with daunorubicin or idarubicin for the newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia: comparison of clinical efficacy

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical effect and toxicity of daunorubicin combined with cytarabine(DA regimen)and idarubicin combined with cytarabine(IA regimen)for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML)as induction chemotherapy. Methods The clinical data of 84 newly diagnosed AML patients(except M3)treated with DA or IA regimen were analyzed retrospectively. DA regimen group included 32 patients(17 males and 15 females with median age of 46 years), while IA regimen group included 52 patients(29 males and 23 females with media age of 49 years). Efficacy index was complete remission(CR), total efficiency and adverse reactions after one course of chemotherapy rate. Results In DA regimen group,the CR rate was 65.6 %(21/32), and the total efficiency rate was 75.0 %(24/32), while in IA regimen group, the CR rate was 71.2 %(31/52), and the total efficiency rate was 80.8 %(42/52), respectively,but, the differences of media survival and 5-year survival rate were not statistically significant(16.8 months vs. 24.9 months, 26 % vs. 44 %, both P>0.05). The main side effect in the two groups included hematologic(bone marrow suppression)and non-hematologic adverse reactions, with no significant difference between the two groups(all P>0.05). Conclusion For newly diagnosed AML patients, remission rate and total efficiency of DA regimen are same as IA regimen after one course treatment, and adverse events between the two regimens do not differ significantly. Key words: Leukemia, myeloid, acute; Daunorubicin; Idarubicin; Cytarabine; Induction chemotherapy