Results of a randomized trial comparing idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia Journal Article


Authors: Berman, E.; Heller, G.; Santorsa, J. A.; McKenzie, S.; Gee, T.; Kempin, S.; Gulati, S.; Andreeff, M.; Kolitz, J.; Gabrilove, J.; Reich, L.; Mayer, K.; Keefe, D.; Trainor, K.; Schluger, A.; Penenberg, D.; Raymond, V.; O'Reilly, R.; Jhanwar, S.; Young, C.; Clarkson, B.
Article Title: Results of a randomized trial comparing idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia
Abstract: 4'-Demethoxydaunorubicin (idarubicin [IDR]) is a new anthracycline that differs from its parent compound by the deletion of a methoxy group at position 4 of the chromophore ring. This minor structural modification results in a more lipophilic compound with a unique metabolite that has a prolonged plasma half-life as well as in vitro and in vivo antileukemia activity. To determine its activity in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 130 consecutive adult patients between the ages of 16 and 60 with newly diagnosed disease were randomized in a single institution study to receive either IDR in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) or standard therapy with daunorubicin (DNR) and Ara-C. The trial was analyzed using the O'Brien-Fleming multiple testing design that allowed for periodic inspection of the data at specific patient accession points. After accrual of 60 patients per arm, analysis showed that patients who received IDR/Ara-C had a superior response compared with those who received standard therapy: 48 of 60 patients (80%) achieved complete remission on the former arm compared with 35 of 60 patients on the latter (58%, P = .005). Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with complete response indicated that treatment with IDR/Ara-C offered a significant advantage to patients who presented with a high initial white blood cell count compared with treatment with DNR/Ara-C. The degree of marrow aplasia was approximately the same on each arm as was nonhematologic toxicity. Overall survival for patients on the IDR/Ara-C arm was 19.5 months compared with 13.5 months on the DNR/Ara-C arm (P = .025) at a median follow-up of 2.5 years. We conclude that IDR/Ara-C can effectively replace standard therapy with DNR/Ara-C in adult patients less than age 60 with newly diagnosed AML.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; major clinical study; cytarabine; follow-up studies; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; probability; daunorubicin; acute myeloblastic leukemia; leukocyte count; idarubicin; analysis of variance; intravenous drug administration; bone marrow aplasia; leukemia, myelocytic, acute; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Blood
Volume: 77
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0006-4971
Publisher: American Society of Hematology  
Date Published: 1991-04-15
Start Page: 1666
End Page: 1674
Language: English
PUBMED: 2015395
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1182/blood.V77.8.1666.1666
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Glenn Heller
    399 Heller
  2. Deborah Keefe
    36 Keefe
  3. Lilian M Reich
    99 Reich
  4. Suresh C Jhanwar
    293 Jhanwar
  5. Ellin Berman
    173 Berman
  6. Bayard Clarkson
    220 Clarkson
  7. Richard O'Reilly
    747 O'Reilly
  8. Charles W Young
    82 Young
  9. Janice Gabrilove
    122 Gabrilove
  10. Klaus   Mayer
    18 Mayer
  11. Subhash C. Gulati
    129 Gulati
  12. Timothy Gee
    46 Gee
  13. Jonathan E. Kolitz
    21 Kolitz
  14. Sanford Kempin
    35 Kempin