Impact of Remission Induction Chemotherapy Prior to Allogeneic SCT in Relapsed and Poor-response Patients With AML

Patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who relapsed or showed a poor response to induction chemotherapy have a dismal prognosis. For these patients, allogeneic transplantation is the recommended treatment. While allogeneic transplantation may be considered as the ultimate treatment concept, the treatment path to transplantation is not well defined.

The traditional approach to pursue a complete remission by means of aggressive reinduction chemotherapy prior to allogeneic transplantation. This approach is associated with potentially life-threatening toxicities and has limited efficacy. As a result, only some patients will reach allogeneic transplantation in complete remission.

To reduce the number of patients who die or who are ineligible for transplantation due to the toxicity of aggressive induction chemotherapy, other bridging options have been explored. One promising alternative is to abstain from remission induction. Instead, disease control by means of less aggressive chemotherapy or simply monitoring leukemic proliferation can be considered.

This randomized trial will identify if there is non-inferiority of the less toxic approach, compared to the standard approach of remission induction by aggressive chemotherapy prior to allogeneic transplantation.

Inclusion criteria

• Signed written informed consent.
• Male and female patients of 18 to 75 years of age.
• Diagnosis of AML according to WHO criteria.
• Patient is fit for aggressive induction chemotherapy and transplantation by assessment of an experienced hematologist.
• No history of chronic pulmonary disease and absence of dyspnea. Otherwise, documented diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide ( DLCO ) ≤ 40 percent ( adjusted for hemoglobin, if available ) and FEV1 / FVC ≥ 50 percent.
• HLA - identical sibling. or
• HLA - compatible unrelated donor ( ≥ 9 /10 antigens matched for HLA - A, - B, - C, -DRB 1, and - DQB 1 ) with completed confirmatory typing or
• Two unrelated donors with > 90 percent probability of a 9 /10 match for HLA - A, - B, - C, - DRB 1, and - DRQB 1, according to Opti Match ® list.

For the relapse stratum

• First AML relapse, defined as ≥ 5 percent bone marrow blasts and / or extramedullary AML manifestation.

For the poor - responders stratum

• AML that evolves from previously documented myelodysplastic syndrome ( MDS ),

and / or

• diagnosis of therapy-related myeloid neoplasm ( t - MN ), and / or

a ) If patient ≤ 60 years old adverse risk AML according to ELN - criteria and ≥ 5 percent bone marrow blasts after the first cycle of induction therapy.

b ) If patient > 60 years old non-favourable risk AML according to ELN - criteria and ≥ 5 percent bone marrow blasts after the first cycle of induction therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Acute promyelocytic leukemia ( APL ).
• WBC count of ≥ 50 GPt / L at study inclusion.
• For patients in the poor - responder stratum the first cycle of induction therapy must not contain HDAC, defined as cytarabine at single-doses of > 1 g / m 2.
• Patient has received more than 440 mg / m2 daunorubicin equivalents.
• Severe organ dysfunction, defined as
• Left ventricular ejection fraction < 50 percent.
• Patients who receive supplementary continuous oxygen.
• Serum bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN ( if not considered Gilbert-Syndrome ), ASAT / ALAT > 5 x ULN.
• Estimated GFR < 50 ml / min.
• Treatment with any investigational drug within 10 days before study entry.
• Uncontrolled infection at the time of enrollment.
• History of allogeneic transplantation.
• Manifestation of AML in the central nervous system.
• Pregnant or breast - feeding women.
• Men unable or unwilling to use adequate contraception methods from start of study treatment to minimum of six months after the last dose of chemotherapy.
• Women of childbearing potential except those who fulfill the following criteria: Post-menopausal or post-operative or continuous and correct application of a contraception method with a Pearl Index < 1 percent or sexual abstinence or vasectomy of the sexual partner.