Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Twenty patients were retrospectively identified who had been treated with azacitidine with bone marrow blast counts between 21 and 38%. Patients with blast counts up to 29% were initially treated as MDS, but by WHO now meet criteria for AML. Patients with blast counts over 29% were treated with azacitidine after being deemed poor candidates for induction chemotherapy. Azacitidine 75 mg/m2/day was administered subcutaneously for 7 days every 4 weeks, which was defined as 1 cycle. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 60% (12/20): complete response (CR; n = 4; 20%); partial response (PR; n = 5; 25%); hematologic improvement (HI; n = 3; 15%). The median survival of responders was 15+ months compared with 2.5 months for nonresponders (P = .009). During therapy, responders had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1 or 0. The most common toxic event was infection (n = 8). Four patients were hospitalized during the first cycle of treatment. CONCLUSIONS:
Azacitidine administered in the outpatient setting can induce remission in AML. The therapy is well tolerated and might be an alternative for patients unlikely to tolerate standard induction chemotherapy.
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Authors | Nimit Sudan, James M Rossetti, Richard K Shadduck, Joan Latsko, John A Lech, Robert B Kaplan, Margaret Kennedy, Jeffrey F Gryn, Yacoub Faroun, John Lister |
Journal | Cancer
(Cancer)
Vol. 107
Issue 8
Pg. 1839-43
(Oct 15 2006)
ISSN: 0008-543X [Print] United States |
PMID | 16967444
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | 2006 American Cancer Society |
Chemical References |
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
- Azacitidine
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Topics |
- Acute Disease
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
(administration & dosage)
- Azacitidine
(administration & dosage)
- Bone Marrow
(pathology)
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Humans
- Injections, Subcutaneous
- Leukemia, Myeloid
(drug therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Outpatients
- Retrospective Studies
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