Background and objective: Chemotherapy regimen containing anthracyclines has been used as the standard treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of the chemotherapy regimen containing perarubicin (THP) with that containing mitoxantrone (MIT) for young patients with newly diagnosed AML.
Methods: A total of 129 patients with newly diagnosed AML, aged 16 to 60 years olds, were assigned for induction chemotherapy containing one to two courses with standard-dose cytarabine (Ara-C) and an anthracycline antibiotic, THP or MIT. When complete remission was achieved after induction therapy, the patients received two courses of consolidation therapy identical to the induction regimen. From then, the patients were alternately given four courses of consolidation therapy consisting of Ara-C/THP or Ara-C/MIT every three weeks. Maintenance treatment continued for three years when patients were in continuous complete remission (CCR).
Results: Twenty-six out of 42 patients (61.90%) receiving THP therapy, and 48 out of 73 patients (65.75%) treated by MIT achieved CR (P>0.05). Nine (34.61%) and 11 (22.92%) out of CR patients treated by THP and MIT, respectively, relapsed within one year (P=0.28). Moreover, the incidences of toxicities, such as infection, nausea/vomiting and cardiac events, were similar in these two groups (P>0.05) except for alopecie, which was 26.19% in the THP group compared to 42.47% in the MIT group (P<0.01).
Conclusions: Regimen containing THP plus Ara-C can be used for young adults with newly diagnosed AML for remission induction, but it is not superior to the regimen with MIT. Consolidation chemotherapy with THP or MIT is feasible for young adults with AML after CR.