The low-intensity chemotherapy were developed to reduce the early mortality and improve the benefit-risk ratio for longterm survival in elderly or unfit AML patients.Previous studies revealed that the standard dose of CAG regimen consisting of low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin in combination with granulocyte colonystimulating factor (G-CSF) priming as an induction therapy was well-tolerated by patients and led to a complete remission (CR) rate of 50.0% in patients aged≥ 70 years. Cladribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine ) is a nucleoside analogue of anti-adenosine deaminase that has extensive antitumor activity in hematological tumor.The purine analog 2-CdA increases the uptake of Ara-C and the accumulation of its active cytotoxic metabolite 5α-triphosphate Ara-C (Ara-CTP) in leukemia cells. This finding suggests that synergy occurs between cladribine and cytarabine. In this study, the investigators conducted a phase II trial that evaluated the efficacy and safety of cladribine in combination with modified CAG regimen (low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin) in unfit patients with AML.Patients will receive C-CAG regimen as follows: cladribine 5 mg/m2, d1-5; G-CSF 300 µg, d0-9; aclarubicin 10 mg, d3-6; cytarabine 10mg/ m2 q12h, SC, d3-9; 4 weeks per cycle. The participants are permitted to quit the study if complete remission (CR) was not achieved after two courses of chemotherapy.The participants will be treated for a total of six cycles unless disease progression or unacceptable side effects are observed or participants withdrew their consent.
In this study, the investigators conducted a phase II trial that evaluated the efficacy and safety of cladribine in combination with modified CAG regimen (low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin) in elderly patients with AML.