Dose-intense etoposide-cyclophosphamide without stem cell transplantation for patients with intermediate and high cytogenetic risk primary refractory and relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

Dose-intense etoposide-cyclophosphamide (D-I ECy) without stem cell transplantation has been used in salvage regimens for the treatment of resistant acute myeloid leukemia(AML). Previous D-I ECy studies classified AML according to FAB-criteria, before cytogenetic risk was found to be a major determinant of prognosis. Currently the influence of karyotype on response to D-I ECy is unknown. Thus, an observational study was conducted in thirty four patients treated with D-I ECy for resistant AML. The results show this regimen is moderately effective in achieving CR in relapsed AML patients, including those with age >60 and poor cytogenetic risk category.