OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinical and cytogenetic features of core binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and the main factors that influence the prognosis.

METHODTotally 130 CBF AML patients were followed up and their clinical features, immunophenotype, chromosome karyotype, treatment regimen, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall complete remission (CR) rate was 96.1%, among which the CR rate after the first treatment course was 77.2%. The overall median OS was 51.64 (0.26-132.5) months, while the median RFS did not reach 1.18-96.62 months. The 3-year OS was 50% and the 5-year OS was 41%; the 3-year RFS was 59% and the 5-year RFS was 54%. Patients who were over 45 years and those with chromosome karyotype of 9q- tended to have poorer prognosis. During the consolidating chemotherapy, patients who had received two or more courses of intermediate-dose Ara-C therapy had better prognosis and longer survival. AML patients with inv (16) /t (16; 16) had a significantly higher OS than those with t (8; 21) (P = 0.046), while the RFS showed an opposite finding (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONSAge, chromosomal karyotype, and consolidating chemotherapy are the main factors that influence the survival and prognosis of CBF AML patients. Two or more courses of intermediate-dose Ara-C during consolidating chemotherapy can obviously prolong the OS and RFS of CBF AML patients. AML patients with a chromosomal karyotype of inv (16) /t (16; 16) have longer OS and better prognosis than those with t (8; 21).