Ara-C, idarubicine and Gentuzumab ozogamicin (AIM) as salvage treatment in advanced acute myeloid leukemia patients

Long-term survival of relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a major problem, particularly in patients not eligible for transplantation. We hereby evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of adding Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin to salvage chemotherapy (Ara-C, Idarubicine, Peg-Filgrastim) in relapsed/refractory AML. The main endpoints were: the rate of complete remissions (CR) and the proportion of patients capable of undergoing a stem cell transplant. Fourty-two patients were enrolled. The overall CR rate was 76% and no induction deaths were reported. In 56% of patients, a transplant procedure could be performed. The treatment schedule proved feasible and well tolerated, providing a high CR rate and a useful bridge to transplant.