Low dose of homoharringtonine and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome aged over 70 years.

Objectives: Our objective is to retrospectively analyze the response to low dose of homoharringtonine (HHT) and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens in patients above 70 years with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed these very elderly newly diagnosed patients with AML and high-risk MDS, who received low dose of HHT and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens between March 2006 and September 2019.

Results: Of the 24 patients, 11 patients (47.8%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 3 (13%) partial remission, and the overall response rate was 60.9%. The estimated median overall survival (OS) time was 12 months and the 1-year OS rate was 47.8%. Patients without CR and Charlson's Comorbidity Index > 2 may be the two independent prognostic factors. The median OS was significantly higher for patients with CR after induction chemotherapy than those without CR (22.93 . 8.5 months, < .01).

Conclusion: Our study provides a hint of the efficacy of low dose of HHT and cytarabine-based priming induction regimens for patients aged over 70 years with AML and high-risk MDS should be further studied.