Long-term follow-up of high-dose mitoxantrone-based induction therapy for patients with newly-diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia. Twelve year results from a single institution

This report provides long-term results of the treatment of patients with newly-diagnosed AML with a single high dose of mitoxantrone combined with once daily cytarabine. One-hundred and sixty-five patients treated on four studies of high-dose mitoxantrone-based induction therapy are included. Patients with a prior antecedent hematologic disorder were eligible. The median follow-up time is 65.9 months (95% CI: 55.7–86.2 months). The overall complete remission rate was 64%, with responses in 78% of patients less than 60 years of age and 51% of patients 60 years of age or older. The median duration of response is 21.2 months and 8.0 months and overall survival is 15.4 months and 7.6 months, respectively. For a sub-set of patients who would be eligible for most US trials, the complete remission rate was 84% in younger patients and 60% in older patients. The median duration of response was 39.0 and 8.2 months and the median overall survival was 19.4 and 7.6 months, respectively. The efficacy of these regimens ...