Decitabine for the treatment of atypical chronic myeloid leukemia: A report of two cases

Atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) is a hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell disorder, predominantly involving neutrophils. At present, a limited number of studies regarding the treatment of aCML have been published, and the therapies that are currently available exhibit unsatisfactory outcomes. In the present study, the cases of two aCML patients treated with decitabine (DCA) therapy who achieved remission are presented. A 48-year-old male, who presented with fatigue and a cough that had lasted two months, and a 69-year-old male who presented with dizziness, fatigue and shortness of breath with exercise, were diagnosed with aCML following bone marrow examination, flow cytometry and chromosome banding analysis. The two patients were treated with four cycles of DCA chemotherapy (20 mg/m2, days 1–5) and remission was achieved in each patient. The present study evaluated the clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria and relevant treatment regimens of aCML, which may provide insights for the treatment of affected patients. Routine blood and bone marrow examinations were performed weekly prior to each cycle. Symptoms were relieved in both patients after the first cycle and the two patients were followed up for 3 months after completion of the final cycle. The findings of the current case report indicate that DCA may present an efficacious treatment for aCML.