title: Gemtuzumab ozogamicin in combination with attenuated doses of standard induction chemotherapy can successfully induce complete remission without increasing toxicity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia aged 55 or older.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, the effectiveness and safety of combining gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) with an abbreviated schedule of standard induction chemotherapy were assessed in 37 patients (aged > or =55) yr with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  
  
  METHODS
  GO was administered at a dose of 6 mg/m(2) as a single 2-h intravenous infusion on day 1. Following GO, an abbreviated schedule of induction chemotherapy consisting of idarubicin (12 mg/m(2)/d, days 2-4), and N4-behenoyl-1-beta-arabinofuranosyl cytosine (300 mg/m(2)/d, days 2-6) was given.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients were treated with GO in combination with chemotherapy. Complete remission (CR) and CR with incomplete platelet recovery were achieved in 28 patients (75.7%) and one patient (2.7%) respectively. Two patients (5.4%) died during induction and two patients (5.4%) with grade 4 treatment emergent adverse effects during chemotherapy did not complete induction chemotherapy. The majority of toxicities were mild and manageable. Severe myelosuppression was universal with significantly prolonged thrombocytopenic period. In total, 25 patients who received consolidation treatment, 19 patients remain alive at the time of analysis. Thirteen patients had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, three are preparing for transplantation and seven are receiving their consolidation chemotherapy course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although only a relatively small number of cases were included in this preliminary study and the follow-up duration was short, frontline GO in combination with attenuated conventional chemotherapy was found to be effective and feasible in elderly patients with AML.
authors.affiliation: Catholic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center, St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. dreom@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: Ki-Seong
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Hee-Je
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo-Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Seok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Byung-Sik
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Sung-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoo-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong-Gun
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Su-Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Seok-Goo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wan-Shik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Chun-Choo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D000079982:Gemtuzumab; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000079982:Gemtuzumab