Long‐term treatment results for acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia patients: a multicentre study

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Abstract
The prognosis and long‐term results of a group of 57 acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (M7‐AML) patients was analysed from a multicentre perspective. Ages ranged from 4 to 83 years, median 49 years: 30 were males and 27 were females. The median follow‐up time was 7 months, range 1–24 months. Early exits occurred in 12 cases, their median age being 71 years. Forty‐five patients were treated with combined aggressive chemotherapy (CT) (n= 26) or low‐dose cytarabine (LD‐AraC) (n= 19). The following results were obtained with combined CT or AraC, respectively. Complete remission (CR) rates were 73% and 84%. 12‐month survival (SV) were 37% and 26%, 24‐month SV were 12% and 11%. median SV 10 and 4 months, and relapse rates (RR) were 68% and 94%. These differences were not statistically significant. Irrespective of the treatment modality, the results were better for children (n = 10) than for adults (n = 35): RR rates were 90% and 74%, median SV: 7 and 5 months, 12‐month SV: 40% and 22%, 24‐month SV: 30% and 9%, and RR: 78% and 81%. respectively: these differences also were not statistically significant. In addition, a literature review of 42 patients from 18 previous reports is presented, including seven cases treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The best results were obtained with BMT: 12 and 24 month SV was 86% and the RR was 0%. On the above‐mentioned basis, we feel that children and young adults with M7‐AML should be offered BMT. In patients over 60 years old or not eligible for aggressive chemotherapy or BMT, an interesting possibility would be the use of LD‐AraC which allows a high CR rate, followed by a classical consolidation regimen in order to prevent early relapses.