OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy, prognosis and safety of decitabine combined with modified EIAG regimen in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). METHODS: The clinical data of 44 patients with relapsed/refractory AML and high-risk MDS admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were equally divided into D-EIAG group (decitabine combined with EIAG regimen) and D-CAG group (decitabine combined with CAG regimen) according to clinical treatment regimen. The complete response (CR), CR with incomplete hematologic recover (CRi), morphologic leukemia-free state (MLFS), partial response (PR), overall response rate (ORR), modified composite complete response (mCRc), overall survival (OS) time, 1-year OS rate, myelosuppression and adverse reactions between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: In D-EIAG group, 16 patients (72.7%) achieved mCRc (CR+CRi+MLFS), 3 patients (13.6%) achieved PR, and ORR (mCRc+PR) was 86.4%. In D-CAG group, 9 patients (40.9%) achieved mCRc, 6 patients (27.3%) achieved PR, and ORR was 68.2%. Difference was observed in mCRc rate between the two groups (P=0.035), but not in ORR (P>0.05). The median OS time of D-EIAG group and D-CAG group was 20 (2-38) months and 16 (3-32) months, and 1-year OS rate was 72.7% and 59.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in 1-year OS rate between the two groups (P>0.05). After induction chemotherapy, the median time for absolute neutrophil count recovery to 0.5×10⁹/L in D-EIAG group and D-CAG group was 14 (10-27) d and 12 (10-26) d, for platelet count recovery to 20×10⁹/L was 15 (11-28) d and 14 (11-24)d, the median red blood cell suspension transfusion volume was 8 (6-12) U and 6 (6-12) U, and the median apheresis platelet transfusion volume was 4 (2-8) U and 3 (2-6) U, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in comparison of the above indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). The hematological adverse reactions of patients were mainly myelosuppression. Grade III-IV hematological adverse events occurred in both groups (100%), with no increase in the incidence of non-hematological toxicities such as gastrointestinal reactions or liver function damage. CONCLUSION Decitabine combined with EIAG regimen in the treatment of relapsed/refractory AML and high-risk MDS can improve remission rate, provide an opportunity for subsequent therapies, and have no increase in adverse reactions compared with D-CAG regimen.
Humans ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Cytarabine ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Bone Marrow Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of decitabine combined with modified CAG regimen (D-CAG regimen) in patients aged ≥70 years with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The clinical data of 59 AML patients (≥70 years old) who were newly diagnosed and treated in the Hematology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from November 2010 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 59 AML patients, 28 were males and 31 were females, with a median age of 74 (70-86) years. The complete remission (CR) rate was 69.4% (34/49), and the median duration of CR was 10.7 (0.6-125.4) months after 2 courses of D-CAG treatment. According to the British Medical Research Council (MRC) classification, there was only one patient in the favorable-risk group, and the CR rate was 71.8% (28/39) in the intermediate-risk group, and 55.6% (5/9) in the adverse-risk group, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the CR rate between the intermediate-risk and adverse-risk group. Referring to ELN 2017 genetic risk classification, CR rate was 88.2% (15/17) in the favorable-risk group, 45.5% (5/11) in the intermediate-risk group, and 66.7% (14/21) in the adverse-risk group. There was no significant difference in CR rate between the favorable-risk and adverse-risk categories, but both were significantly higher than that in the intermediate-risk group (P <0.05). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis showed that 11 gene mutations with a frequency of more than 10%, including TET2 mutation (35.6%), ASXL1 mutation (30.5%), NPM1 mutation (28.8%), FLT3-ITD mutation (27.1%), DNMT3A mutation (22.0%), IDH1 mutation (15.3%), CEBPA single mutation (13.6%), TP53 mutation (13.6%), IDH2 mutation (11.9%), RUNX1 mutation (11.9%), and NRAS mutation (10.2%). There were no statistical differences in mutation frequency of these 11 genes between CR group and non-CR group. Compared with normal karyotypes, patients with complex karyotypes were more likely to develop TP53 mutations (P <0.001), while FLT3-ITD and DNMT3A mutations were more likely to occur in patients with normal karyotypes (P =0.04, P =0.047). The median follow-up, overall survival (OS), and event-free survival (EFS) of all the patients was 11.7 (1.5-128.2) months, 12.3 (1.5-128.2) months, and 8.5 (1.5-128.2) months, respectively. The median OS and EFS of CR patients were 19.8 and 13.3 months, respectively, which were significantly longer than 6.4 and 5.7 months in patients experiencing treatment failure (P < 0.001, P =0.009). In regard to genes with mutation frequency >10%, there were no statistical differences in CR rate, median OS, and median EFS between mutated and wild-type patients by Chi-square test and survival analysis. Univariate analysis showed that age, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, cytogenetics and CR were factors affecting prognosis, while multivariate analysis showed that only CR failure was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS. The major adverse reactions to D-CAG regimen were grade 3-4 myelosuppression, pulmonary infection, and fever (infection focus was not identified). CONCLUSION D-CAG regimen is safe and effective in the treatment of AML patients ≥70 years old, and can partially improve the prognosis of elderly and high-risk patients.
Aged ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged, 80 and over ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cytarabine/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Mutation ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined with decitabine, homoharringtonine, and interferon regimen as maintenance therapy for blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-BP). METHODS: The clinical data of CML-BP patients who received the first major hematological response after induction therapy at The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2015 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The event-free survival, duration of remission, and overall survival of patients in TKI combined with decitabine, homoharringtonine, interferon group(n=18) and TKI combined with conventional chemotherapy group(n=10) were compared by log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were included, with a median age of 46 (24-58) years old. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients in TKI combined with decitabine, homoharringtonine, interferon group had longer event-free survival (7.4 vs 4.3 months, P=0.043, HR＝0.44, 95% CI: 0.17-1.14), duration of overall remission (16.1 vs 6.6 months, P=0.005, HR＝0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.89), overall survival (34.3 vs 13.5 months, P=0.006, HR＝0.29, 95% CI: 0.10-0.82) compared with patients in TKI combined with conventional chemotherapy group. CONCLUSION The TKI combined with decitabine, homoharringtonine and interferon regimen can significantly prolong the survival of CML-BP patients who obtained the major hematological response compared with TKI combined with conventional chemotherapy regimen.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Blast Crisis/drug therapy* ; Homoharringtonine/therapeutic use* ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Interferons/therapeutic use* ; Tyrosine Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of decitabine (DEC) combined with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the number of immune cells, efficacy and adverse reactions in the treatment of myeloid neoplasms patients. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with myeloid tumors, including AML, MDS-EB-1 or MDS-EB-2 treated by the regimen containing decitabine in our hospital from January 2009 to October 2019 were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed, among the patients, 21 patients treated with DEC alone, 24 patients treated with DEC combined with ATRA (DEC/ATRA) and 39 patients treated with DEC combined with G-CSF priming regimen (DEC/priming). The changes of peripheral blood immune cell levels before and after treatment of the patients between the three groups were compared, and the differences in clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of the patients between the three groups were also compared. RESULTS: There was no statistical differences in the number of immune cells among the patients in the three groups before treatment (P>0.05). NK cell levels decreased significantly in the patients in DEC and DEC/ATRA group after treatment (P<0.05); After treatment, the levels of CD8+ and CD3+T cells in the patients treated by DEC /priming regimen significantly increased (P<0.05), while the levels of CD3-HLA-DR+ B cells significantly decreased (P<0.05). The overall response rate (ORR) of the patients in DEC/ATRA group (75%) and DEC/priming group (74.36%) was significantly higher than 42.86% in DEC monotherapy group, and the differences showed statistically significant (P<0.05), while the ORR between the patients in DEC/ATRA and DEC/priming group showed no statistic differences (P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in overall survival (OS) and incidence of bleeding between the patients in the three groups (P>0.05). The incidences of grade 3 to 4 bone marrow suppression and the infection rate of the patients in DEC monotherapy and DEC/ATRA group were significantly lower than that in DEC/priming regimen group after treatment (all P<0.05), however, there was no statistical difference between DEC monotherapy and the DEC/ATRA group. CONCLUSION The efficacy of DEC/ATRA on myeloid neoplasms is comparable to that of DEC/priming regimen, and the anti-myeloid tumor effect of DEC/ATRA regimen may be related to the regulation of NK cells and T cells.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tretinoin/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate regulatory T cells (Tregs) relative content in peripheral blood and bone marrow of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with or without decitabine (DAC), analyze the immunomodulatory of Tregs in pathogenesis and remission of MDS and AML, as well as effect of DAC on Tregs. METHODS: From October 2018 to February 2019, 15 patients with MDS and 49 patients with AML (newly diagnosed, treated with DAC or other chemotherapy regimens) were enrolled in this study, and 14 cases with iron deficiency or megaloblastic anemia while without malignant tumor and autoimmune disease as controls. The Tregs relative contents in bone marrow and peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry, meanwhile clinical data of the objects were collected. RESULTS: In peripheral blood and bone marrow of the patients with MDS and AML, the Tregs relative contents at newly diagnosed were higher than those of the control group (P=0.05, P=0.043). The Tregs relative content of AML patients in DAC regimen treatment group was significantly lower than that in the newly diagnosed group and non-DAC chemotherapy group (P<0.05). In DAC regimen treatment group, the Tregs relative contents was significantly lower in remission group than in non-remission group (P<0.05). There was no difference between DAC regimen treatment group and control group in Tregs relative content. CONCLUSION DAC may increase the body's anti-tumor immunity by consuming Tregs content, enhance the body's immune function to identify and kill tumor cells, thereby promote the patients' reliefs.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bone Marrow ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy and survival factors of microtransplantation (MST) in adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: For a retrospective analysis of 27 adult patients with AML receiving MST from July 2014 to October 2021, the median age was 59(29-77) years old, 13 cases were ≥60 years old, 14 case were <60 years old, 13 cases were male and 14 cases were female. Classification by FAB: AML-M2 6 cases, AML-M4 6 cases, AML-M5 2 cases, AML-M6 2 cases, AML（Undivided type） 9 cases, AML myeloid sarcoma 2 cases (primary AML 21 cases, AML secondary to MDS 6 cases). Cytogenetic analysis showed 25 patients with a normal karyotype, 2 patients with an abnormal karyotype, and 20 patients with an abnormal molecular biology. Induction chemotherapy regimens mainly include: IA, DA, MA or HA regimen, including CAG or CIG in combination with decitabine, and single-agent decitabine. 17 patients achieved complete remission (CR) after 1 course of induction chemotherapy and 4 patients achieved CR after 2 courses of induction chemotherapy. 3 patients received CR by four courses of decitabine, 2 patients received no remission, and 1 patient underwent no induction chemotherapy and were treated direct MST. There were 16 patients with pretransplant CR and 11 patients were not in remission before transplantation. Follow-up mainly used consult patient's medical records and telephone inquiry to observe the adverse effects and efficacy of MST treatment. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, with the main observation indicators overall survival(OS) and leukemia-free survival(LFS), and performed with the Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed by the Cox regression model. RESULTS: A total of 79 MST were performed in 27 AML patients with good overall safety and no special serious adverse effects. The median time of leukocyte recovery was 13(4-28) days, and the median time of platelet recovery was 13(4-30) days. There were 50 cases of infection, 5 cases of abnormal liver function and 3 cases of abnormal cardiac function. Except for abnormal cardiac function, all other complications did not affect the treatment and were cure. Acute or chronic GVHD, renal insufficiency, abnormal coagulation function, and severe bleeding were not observed during treatment or during follow-up. As of the follow-up date, the median follow-up time of the 27 patients was 79(14-171) months, the median OS time was 62(1-171) months, and the median LFS time was 15(0-171) months. The 2-year OS rate was 65.7%（17/27）, and the 2-year LFS rate was 47.4%（12/27） . The complete response rate of 27 patients treated with MST was 48.1% (13/27). 8 patients relapsed during MST treatment, including 7 patients after the completion of the first MST course and 1 patient after the completion of the second MST course. 2 patients relapsed after the end of the course of MST. 13 patients died, including 10 patients because of disease progression, two patients from severe infection, and one patient from cardiac damage. CONCLUSION MST has the advantages of small toxic side effects, complete compatibility of HLA matching is not required, effective avoidance of GVHD and rapid hematopoietic recovery, which can improve OS and LFS in elderly AML and young AML patients, and is one of the treatment options for patients without HLA matching.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Cytarabine ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and mechanism of decitabine maintenance therapy in patients with medium and low-risk acute myeloid leukemia(AML). METHODS: The newly diagnosed medium- and low-risk AML patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from December 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Seventy-eight AML patients who were still in remission after consolidation treatment were divided into maintenance treatment group (31 cases) and control group (47 cases). The maintenance treatment patients received decitabine at 20 mg/m2 IV daily for 5 days, every three months for 6 cycles, the control group was only observed and tested regularly. Follow-up was completed by telephone or by viewing outpatient or inpatient medical records. Primary indicators were overall survival (OS), and secondary indicators include relapse-free survival (RFS), tolerance, cellular immune function and analysis of risk factors related to survival. RESULTS: Median RFS in maintenance theatment and control groups was 30.1(26.2-33.8) months and 24.3(21.7-30.3) months (P=0.011), median OS 34.7(29.8-39.7) months and 27.7(24.1-31.3) months respectively（P=0.024）, with a statistically significant difference. For the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, only the minimal residual disease (HR=25.185, P<0.001) and the treatment methods (HR=0.124, P<0.001) affected the PFS and OS of patients. In the maintenance treatment group, CD3⁺T cells, CD8⁺T cells and NK cells increased significantly after decitabine maintenance treatment, and the regulatory T cells decreased significantly (P<0.05). Patients had a low incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events, hematological adverse events were mainly neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, non-hematological adverse events were mainly digestive tract symptoms, and the patient was well tolerated. CONCLUSION Maintenance treatment with decitabine provided benefit survival in patients with medium- and low-risk AML and is well tolerated. The mechanism may be inhibition the proliferation of regulatory T cells, induce and enhance the cytotoxic effect of CD8⁺ T cells on tumor antigens.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients treated by different doses of decitabine (DAC) and its safety. METHODS: Thirty patients with high-risk MDS were all treated by demethylation drug DAC. According to the doses of DAC, 30 patients were divided into 10-day regimen [6 mg/(m RESULTS: The patients were followed up to May 2020, in the 10-day regimen group, 10 cases achieved complete remission (CR), 3 cases achieved partial remission (PR), and 2 cases were progressive disease (PD). Four cases died, including 1 case for heart failure, 2 cases for respiratory failure and 1 case for serious infection. In the 5-day regimen group, 11 cases achieved CR, 1 case achieved PR, 3 cases were PD. Five cases died, including 2 cases for heart failure and 3 for serious infection. The CR rate and ORR of the patients in the two groups were 66.67% vs 73.33%, 86.67% vs 80.00%, respectively, which showed no significant differences, and the efficacy also showed no significant difference. After treatment, the levels of WBC, NE, Hb and PLT of the patients in 10-day regimen group were higher than those in 5-day regimen. In the 10-day regimen group, there were 11 cases of pneumonia, 2 cases of bacteremia, 1 case of skin infection and 1 case of urinary tract infection. While in the 5-day regimen group, 13 cases of pneumonia, 5 cases bacteremia, 1 case of skin infection and 3 cases of urinary tract infection. There were 2 cases with mild gastrointestinal response in the 10-day regimen group, and 7 cases with obvious nausea and anorexia in the 5-day regimen group. The symptoms were relieved after the treatment of acid suppression, stomach protection and antiemetic. The liver, kidney and heart function were monitored. One case liver function damage and 2 cases cardiac insufficiency were observed in the 10-day regimen group. Seven cases regimen cardiac insufficiency and 4 cases regimen liver function damage were observed in the 5-day regimen group. CONCLUSION 10-day regimen and 5-day regimen are equally effective, but 10-day regimen is less myelosuppressive and more safer, which can be applied in clinical.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Cytarabine/therapeutic use* ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of decitabine combined with low-dose CEG regimen (DCEG) and decitabine combined with low-dose CAG regimen (DCAG) in the treatment of elderly patients with MDS and MDS-transformed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 7 medical centers, 45 patients with MDS (≥ 60 years old) and MDS-transformed AML from October 2016 to January 2019 were enrolled, with the median age of 68.5 years old. The risk stratification of patients was poor or very poor, according to IPSS-R score. The treament results of decitabine combined with CEG and decitabine combined with CAG were compared. RESULTS: The comparison of the two regiem showed that the DCEG regimen had advantages on total effective rate (ORR, 86.4% vs 47.8%, respectively), overall survival time (OS) (10.0 months vs 6.0 months, respectively) and progression-free survival time (PFS) (9.0 months vs 3.0 months, respectively). About 50% of MDS patients treated by DCEG regimen achieved PR or CR, with a median OS of 31 months. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with PR or CR after induction therapy and DCEG regimen had longer survival time (31months). The incidence of bone marrow suppression, infection and treatment-related mortality rate were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION Decitabine combined with CEG regimen could improve the survival of patients with high-risk MDS and MDS-transformed AML. The conclusion of the reaserch needs to be validated by a larger prospective randomized clinical trial.
Aclarubicin ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Cytarabine/therapeutic use* ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Patients ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of small dose HAG combined with decitabine regimen in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: 134 elderly AML patients treated in our hospital from March 2015 to December 2018 were selected, and the patients were divided into CAG group and combined treatment group. The AML patients in CAG group was treated with CAG regimen, while the AML patients in combined treatment group was treated with small dose HAG regimen combined with decitabine. Efficacy was evaluated after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the OR rate of the patients in combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in CAG group (χ=5.311, P=0.021). The nausea and vomiting rate, infection rate, myelosuppression rate, bleeding rate and intestinal discomfort rate showed no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05). The CD3, CD4 and CD8 levels of patients in combined treatment group were significantly lower than those in CAG group (P＜0.05). The result of followed-up for 2 years, showed that the overall survival rate of patients in combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in CAG group [(76.2±6.3)% vs (45.7±7.6)%] (χ=4.214, P＜0.05), while the disease free survival rate of patients in combined treatment group were (57.4±7.7)%, which was significantly higher than that in CAG group (30.3±7.9)% (χ=5.250, P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Small dose HAG regimen combined with decitabine for elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia has a certain curative efficacy.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; Decitabine ; Disease-Free Survival ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome