[The efficacy of high-dose cytarabine for patients with t(8;21) AML and with normal karyotype AML].

Objective: To compare the efficacy of high-dose cytarabine (HD-Ara-C) based chemotherapy for post-remission treatment in patients with t(8;21) (q22;q22) AML-M2 and those with normal karyotype AML-M2.

Methods: AML-M2 patients were grouped into with (21 cases) or without (23 cases) t(8;21) (q22;q22) karyotype groups. After achieved remission by induction therapy, all patients received four cycles of HD-Ara-C (3 mg/m2 per 12 hours by three-hour infusion day 1 to day 3) with either mitoxantrone (7 mg m(-2) d(-1)) or aclarubicin (30 mg m(-2) d(-1)) or etoposide (70 mg m(-2) d(-1)) for 3d as post-remission treatment.

Results: Relapse rate in the t(8;21) and the normal karyotype groups was 29% and 57% respectively (P<0.05); 3 year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 71% and 43% respectively (P < 0.05). and 3 year over-all survival (OS) rate was 76% and 65% respectively (P >0.05).

Conclusion: Four cycles of high-dose cytarabine based combination chemotherapy as post-remission treatment improves long-term disease-free survival in patients with t(8;21) (q22;q22) AML-M2.