OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of DCAG (decitabine, cytarabine, anthracyclines, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor) regimen in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The clinical data of 64 R/R AML patients received treatment at Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Primary endpoints included efficacy measured by overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and duration of response (DOR). The patients were followed from enrollment until death, or the end of last follow-up (June 1st, 2023), whichever occurred first. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients who failed prior therapy were enrolled and completed 1 cycle, and 26 and 5 patients completed 2 and 3 cycles, respectively. Objective response rate was 67.2% ［39: complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), 4: partial remission (PR)］. With a median follow-up of 62.0 months (1.0-120.9), the median overall survival (OS) was 23.3 and event-free survival was 10.6 months. The median OS was 51.7 months (3.4-100.0) in responders (CR/CRi/PR) while it was 8.4 months (6.1-10.7) in nonresponders ( P <0.001). Grade 3-4 hematologic toxicities were observed in all patients. Four patients died from rapid disease progression within 8 weeks after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION The DCAG regimen represents a feasible and effective treatment for R/R AML.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Cytarabine/administration & dosage* ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/administration & dosage* ; Retrospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Decitabine ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Anthracyclines/administration & dosage* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with demethylating drugs and intense chemotherapy in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The clinical data of 76 patients with AML treated in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital from January 2019 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into observation group and control group. 38 patients in the observation group received venetoclax combined with demethylating drugs (decitabine or azacytidine) and 38 patients in the control group with the "3+7" intensive chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoints of clinical observation were complete remission (CR), CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi), partial remission (PR), non remission (NR), and overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and drug safety. RESULTS: After 2 courses of treatment, the CR+CRi rate in observation group and control group was 71.05% and 65.79%, respectively, and the ORR was 81.58% and 78.95%, respectively. After all courses of treatment, CR+CRi rate in the observation group and the control group was 73.68% and 78.95%, respectively, and the ORR was 81.58% and 84.21%, respectively, with no statistical significance between the two groups (P >0.05). After 1 course of treatment, there were statistically significant differences in the proportion and degree of myelosuppression, the duration of neutropenia and the duration of thrombocytopenia between the two groups (P < 0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences in the occurrence of neutropenia with fever between the two groups (P >0.05). The incidence of non-hematological adverse reactions was highest in infection (mainly pulmonary infection) and gastrointestinal reaction. Among the many adverse reactions, there were statistically significant differences in the infection and hypokalemia between the two groups (P < 0.05), the incidence of hypokalemia in observation group and control group was 42.11% and 15.79%, respectively, and the infection rate in observation group and control group was 73.68% and 94.74%, respectively. The median OS was 13.13(1.67-53.63) months in the observation group and 16.60(0.57-59.67) months in the control group. CONCLUSION The combination of venetoclax and demethylating drugs has a low degree of myelosuppression, but a long recovery time, a response rate as good as that of intensive chemotherapy, and a lower infection rate. However, the incidence of hypokalemia is low in the intensive chemotherapy regimen, and the regimen significantly improves the long-term outcome of patients.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Sulfonamides/therapeutic use* ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/administration & dosage* ; Retrospective Studies ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Female ; Male ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Aged ; Remission Induction

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of decitabine-based myeloablative preconditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: The clinical characteristics and efficacy of 115 AML patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from August 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 37 patients treated with decitabine conditioning regimen (decitabine group) and 78 patients without decitabine conditioning regimen (non-decitabine group). The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) were analyzed. RESULTS: For the patients in first complete remission (CR1) state before allo-HSCT, the 1-year relapse rates of decitabine group(22 cases) and non-decitabine group(69 cases) were 9.1% and 29.6%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(P =0.042). The 1-year cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in decitabine group and non-decitabine group was 62.2% and 70.5%, respectively, and the 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic inhibitor-versus-host disease (cGVHD) was 18.9% and 14.1%, respectively, there were no significant differences in the incidence of aGVHD and cGVHD between the two groups (P >0.05). Of the 115 patients, there were no significantly differences in the 1-year CIR(21.7% vs 28.8%, P =0.866), NRM(10.9% vs 3.9%, P =0.203), OS(75.2% vs 83.8%, P =0.131) and LFS(74.6% vs 69.1%, P =0.912) between the decitabine group(37 cases) and the non-decitabine group(78 cases). CONCLUSION Decitabine-based conditioning regimen could reduce the relapse rate of AML CR1 patients with good safety.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Transplantation Conditioning/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) treated with hypomethylating agents (HMA), and to analyze the factors that may affect their efficacy and prognosis, in order to provide a clinical basis for the choice of treatment options for patients with MDS/MPN. METHODS: 35 patients with newly diagnosed MDS/MPN who received hypomethylating therapy from January 2018 to April 2024 in the Department of Hematology of Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were included. The patients were divided into decitabine group (15 cases) and azacitidine group (20 cases) according to the treatment regimen. The efficacy, median overall survival (OS), and median progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients after HMA treatment were evaluated. The differences in efficacy and survival between the two groups were compared, and factors affecting efficacy and prognosis of MDS/MPN patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response rate (ORR) of the 35 MDS/MPN patients treated with HMA was 51.4%. The ORR was 73.3% in decitabine group and 35.0% in azacitidine group, with a statistically significant difference (P =0.041). Survival analysis showed that the median OS was 12 months and the median PFS was 10 months in the entire cohort of the patients. There was no difference in median OS between decitabine group and azacitidine group. The median PFS in decitabine group was 12 months, higher than that in azacitidine group (7 months), but the difference was not statistically significant (P =0.505). Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment regimen and platelet count were independent influencing factors for the efficacy of HAM treatment; The course and therapeutic efficacy of HMA treatment were independent influencing factors for OS in MDS/MPN patients. The main adverse reactions of HMA treatment were myelosuppression and pulmonary infection. Gastrointestinal reactions were more likely to occur in the azacitidine group than in the decitabine group, and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.027). CONCLUSION HMA treatment is effective and well-tolerated in some MDS/MPN patients. Decitabine shows superior efficacy compared with azacitidine and is less likely to cause gastrointestinal reactions. Patients who received ≥4 courses of HMAs and responded to hypomethylating therapy had longer OS.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Decitabine/therapeutic use* ; Azacitidine/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic-Myeloproliferative Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Myeloproliferative Disorders/drug therapy* ; Adult ; DNA Methylation

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of decitabine combined with low dose chemotherapy (LDC) in the treatment of high-risk, refractory and relapsed pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: Clinical data of 19 AML children treated with decitabine combined with LDC in the Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University from April 2017 to November 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The therapeutic response, adverse effects and survival status were analyzed,and the outcomes of patients were followed up. Results: Among 19 AML cases, there were 10 males and 9 females. Five cases were high-risk AML, 7 cases were refractory AML, and 7 cases were relapsed AML. After one course of decitabine+LDC treatment, 15 cases achieved complete remission, 3 cases got partial remission, and only 1 case didn't get remission. All patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as consolidation therapy. The follow-up time of all cases was 46 (37, 58) months, 14 children had survived. The cumulative three-year overall survival rate was (79±9) %, events free survival rates was (68±11) %, and recurrence free survival rate was (81±10) %. The most common adverse effects related to the induction treatment were cytopenia (19 cases) and infection (16 cases).There were no treatment-related death during the therapy. Conclusion: Decitabine combined with LDC is a safe and effective option for high-risk, refractory and relapsed AML children, which provides an opportunity for HSCT.
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Child ; Decitabine ; Retrospective Studies ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy* ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

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 investigate the biological effects and its relative mechanism of decitabine combined with anlotinib on multiple myeloma cells. METHODS: The human MM cell lines and primary cells were treated with different concentrations of decitabine, anlotinib, and decitabine+anlotinib, respectively. The cell viability was detected and combination effect was calculated by CCK-8 assay. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry and the level of c-Myc protein was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Both decitabine and anlotinib could effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of MM cell lines NCI-H929 and RPMI-8226. The effect of combined treatment on the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis was stronger than that of single-drug treatment. The combination of the two drugs also showed strong cytotoxicity in primary MM cells. Decitabine and anlotinib could down-regulate the level of c-Myc protein in MM cells and the c-Myc level in the combination group was the lowest. CONCLUSION Decitabine combined with anlotinib can effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of MM cells, which provides a certain experimental basis for the treatment of human MM.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/metabolism* ; Decitabine ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with decitabine (Dec)-conditioning regimen in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and MDS transformed acute myeloid leukemia (MDS-AML). METHODS: The characteristics and efficacy data of 93 patients with MDS and MDS-AML who received allo-HSCT in our center from April 2013 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were administered by myeloablative conditioning regimen containing Dec (25 mg/m² /d×3 d). RESULTS: Among the 93 patients, 63 males and 30 females, were diagnosed as MDS（n ＝77）, MDS-AML（n ＝16）. The incidence of I/II grade regimen-related toxicity (RRT) was 39.8%, and III grade RRT was only found in 1 patient (1%). Neutrophil engraftment was successful in 91 (97.8%) patients after a median neutrophil engraftment time of 14 (9-27) days; Successful platelet engraftment was achieved in 87 (93.5%) patients, with a median engraftment time of 18 (9-290) days. The incidence of acute graft versus host disease（aGVHD） and grade III-IV aGVHD was 44.2% and 16.2%, respectively. The incidence of chronic graft versus host disease（cGVHD） and moderate-to-severe cGVHD was 59.5% and 37.1%, respectively. Of the 93 patients, 54 (58%) developed posttransplant infections, among which lung infection (32.3%) and bloodstream infection (12.9%) were the most common. The median follow-up after transplantation was 45 (0.1-108) months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, treatment-related mortality, and cumulative incidence of relapse were 72.7%, 68.4%, 25.1%, and 6.5%, respectively. And the 1-year graft-versus-host disease/relapse-free survival rate was 49.3%. The patients in different group of relative high-risk prognostic scoring or low-risk prognostic scoring, with or without poor-risk mutation(s), with mutations number ≥3 or <3 had similar 5-year OS rate (more than 70%). Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of grade III-IV aGVHD was the independent risk factor affecting OS（P =0.008）and DFS (P =0.019). CONCLUSION Allo-HSCT with Dec-conditioning regimen is feasible and effective in the treatment of patients with MDS and MDS-AML, especially those in high prognostic risk and with poor-risk mutations.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Decitabine ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous/adverse effects* ; Transplantation Conditioning/adverse effects* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/complications* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Chronic Disease ; Graft vs Host Disease/therapy* ; Recurrence

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