Intermediate dose cytarabine improves survival and relapse-free rate compared with standard-dose cytarabine as post-remission treatment for acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospection study

ABSTRACT The exact dose of cytarabine still remain controversial for the management of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after complete remission (CR), but recent studies favor lower doses. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of single-intermediate dose (ID) cytarabine in patients with AML after achieving CR, compared with standard-dose cytarabine.In this retrospective study, AML patients who achieved CR after consolidation therapy before enrollment between 07/2008 and 05/2019 were included. All patients were divided into single-ID cytarabine and standard-dose cytarabine. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare overall survival (OS) and relapse-free time (RFS). Cox regression models were used to assess factors independently associated with OS and RFS. The toxic side effects of hematology and non-hematology were observed.52 patients were enrolled. There were 33 in ID group, 19 in Standard dose group. The 3-year RFS rate (40.4% vs 22.2%, P = .031) was better in the ID group than in the standard-dose group, while the 3-year OS rate was not different between the 2 groups (50.2% vs 27.8%, P = .074). Treatment stratage of ID cytarabine chemotherapy significantly improve the prognosis of AML regardless of patient age, risk grade, WBC count. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in grade 3 to 4 bone marrow suppression, gastrointestinal symptoms, blood transfusion, infections.Patients with AML receiving ID cytarabine showed better survival and similar toxicity profiles compared with patients who received standard-dose cytarabine.