Low dose of homoharringtonine and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens for patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome aged over 70 years

Objectives Our objective is to retrospectively analyze the response to low dose of homoharringtonine (HHT) and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens in patients above 70 years with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed these very elderly newly diagnosed patients with AML and high-risk MDS, who received low dose of HHT and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens between March 2006 and September 2019. Results Of the 24 patients, 11 patients (47.8%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 (13%) partial remission, and the overall response rate was 60.9%. The estimated median overall survival (OS) time was 12 months and the 1-year OS rate was 47.8%. Patients without CR and Charlson's Comorbidity Index > 2 may be the two independent prognostic factors. The median OS was significantly higher for patients with CR after induction chemotherapy than those without CR (22.93 vs. 8.5 months, p < .01). Conclusion Our study provides a hint of the efficacy of low dose of HHT and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens for patients aged over 70 years with de novo AML and high-risk MDS should be further studied.