Modification or Dose or Treatment Duration Has No Impact on Outcome of AML in Older Patients: Preliminary Results of the UK NCRI AML14 Trial.

The NCRI AML14 Trial was devised for patients aged over 60 years with de novo or secondary AML or high risk MDS (defined as >10% blasts). There was a non-intensive option which compared Low Dose Ara-C vs Hydroxyurea each with or without All-Trans Retinoic Acid which has been reported previously (

A total of 1273 patients entered the trial between December 1998 and closure in May 2005, from 136 centres. Follow-up is complete to 1^st April 2005, with median follow-up of 33 months. The median age was 67 (range 44-88). Cytogenetics were known for 67% of patients: of these, 3% had favourable, 74% intermediate and 23% adverse cytogenetics. 72% had de novo AML, 17% had secondary disease and 11% had high risk MDS. The overall CR rate was 62% and the Relapse Risk (RR), Disease Free Survival (DFS), and Overall Survival (OS) were 84%, 13%, and 13% at 5 years. 896 patients were randomised to D50 vs D35. No significant differences were found in CR (63% vs 64% OR 1.04 (95% CI 0.78–1.37)), RR (84% vs 85% OR 0.85 (95%CI 0.65–1.06)), DFS 14% vs 13% OR 0.86 (95% CI 0.70–1.06)), or OS (15% vs 13% OR 0.92, 95% CI (0.72–1.08)). Likewise, there were no significant differences in outcome for the 1264 patients randomised to Ara-C 200 vs 400: CR (62% vs 62% OR 1.00 (95% CI 0.80–1.27)), RR (84% vs 85% OR 1.14 (95% CI 0.95–1.37)), DFS (13% vs13% OR 1.14 (95% CI 0.96–1.14)) or OS (13% vs 12% OR 1.00 (95%CI 0.87–1.14)). In the 255 patients randomised to a total of 4 vs 3 courses the RR (83% vs 76% OR 0.90 95%CI 0.66–1.24), DFS (16% vs 18% OR 0.94 95% CI 0.69–1.28) and OS (23% vs 22% OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.75–1.47) were not significantly different.

From this preliminary analysis we conclude that there is no difference between a reduced dose of Daunorubicin (35mg/m²) compared with standard dose, or between enhanced Ara-C dose (400mg/m²) or standard dose and the confidence intervals are consistent with at most a moderate difference in treatment effect. We found no benefit for giving more than 3 courses of total treatment to patients in this age group, although the confidence intervals here do not rule out moderate, but potentially meaningful differences.