In this study of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 1,271 of 3,919 patients age 16 to 49 years who did not receive a transplant in first complete remission (CR1) relapsed. The percentage of these relapsed patients able to achieve CR2 was 55%, which varied by risk group: favorable (82%), intermediate (54%), adverse (27%), and unknown (53%). Five-year survivals of these patients were 32%, 17%, 7%, and 23%, respectively. Of these relapsed patients, 19% are alive beyond 5 years. The authors conclude that “successful salvage treatment of patients who do not undergo transplantation in CR1 and relapse can be achieved in 19% of patients, which is improved by a transplant except in favorable risk disease.”
Burnett AK, et al. J Clin Oncol
Two editorials discussing these results: 1. Dr. Richard Stone, 2. Dr. Charles Schiffer.