This study was aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of relapsed-refractory
acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with AML1-ETO⁺, and its therapeutic efficacy and side effects when
decitabine combined with modified
CAG regimen was used. Clinical data of 5 cases of AML with AML1-ETO⁺ from January 2013 to Agust 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. The analyzed data included age, sex, initial symptoms, peripheral blood and bone marrow characteristics. Meanwhile, the therapeutic effecacy and side effects of
decitabine combined with modified
CAG regimen were evaluated. The 5 patients were with median age of 35 (17-43) years. Among these 5 patients, 2 patients were relapsed and other 3 patients were relapsed-refractory patients, their median white blood cell count was 12.55 (7.8-66.55) × 10⁹/L, median platelets count was 44 (20-72) × 10⁹/L, median
hemoglobin level was 110 (77-128) g/L, median
lactate dehydrogenase level was 312.9 U/L (123.6-877.8) at the initial diagnosis. The results showed that after
decitabine combined with modified
CAG regimen was administered, 4 patients achieved complete remission, 1 patient did not achieve remission, the overall remission rate was 80% (4/5). The main side effects of this regimen was myelosuppression, these were no new lung
infection and other serious complications, one case without complete remission treated with FLAG once again died of
heart failure when being mobilized for
transplantation. It is concluded that according to preliminary results of
decitabine combined with modified
CAG regimen for relapsed and refractory AML patients with AML1-ETO⁺ displays higher remission rate and lower side effects, which worthy to further explore for clinal application.