A Randomized Study of Post-Remission Therapy in Elderly Patients With Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

In this ALFA-9803 trial in AML patients aged 65 years or more, we randomly compared idarubicin or daunorubicin throughout the study (first randomization) and two different post-remission strategies (second randomization): one single intensive consolidation course similar to induction versus six ambulatory cycles with one dose of idarubicin/daunorubicin (day 1) and 2x60 mg/m2/d cytarabine SC (day 1 to 5) delivered in out-patients on a monthly basis. Primary endpoint was 2-year overall survival (OS). Study hypotheses were equivalence for the idarubicin/daunorubicin comparison and a 15% difference in 2-year OS for the post-remission therapy comparison.

Sex

All

Minimum age

65 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

Male or female aged 65 years or more. Patient with previously untreated AML except M3 in the FAB classification. Patient with previously untreated transformed refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB-t).

Patients with AML secondary to a previously untreated myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), documented or not, are eligible, as well as those with RAEB-t evolving from a previous known MDS.

Patients with a Performance Status \< 3. Patient who has given his/her written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with AML3 in the FAB classification. Patients with blast crisis of previously known myeloproliferative syndrome. Patients with AML secondary to previous treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy (therapy-related AML).

Patients with another concommitant neoplasia. Patients with leukemic central nervous system involvement. Patients with a Grade \> 2 uncontrolled infection. Patients with Grade \> 2 visceral contra-indications to treatment with induction chemotherapy (except if leukemia-related).

Bilirubin \> 2 times the normal range of the laboratory. Serum creatinine \> 2 times the normal range of the laboratory. Patients with cardiac contra-indication to treatment with anthracyclines.

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