Combination therapy results in 98% response rate for some newly diagnosed leukemia patients

December 13, 20194 min

A study led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center showed that treatment combining lower doses of chemotherapy with the monoclonal antibody inotuzumab ozogamicin (INO), with or without the drug blinatumomab, is safe and effective in patients over 60 years of age who were newly diagnosed with a high-risk form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) known as Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL.

 

“This study demonstrated that reduced-intensity chemotherapy, when combined with INO, resulted in a 98% response rate and three-year survival rate of 54%,” said Short. “Ninety-five percent of all patients who responded showed no detectable minimal residual disease, which is an important endpoint in ALL therapy that has been shown to correlate with reduced risk of relapse and better long-term survival.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Previous international studies, both led by MD Anderson investigators, showed that blinatumomab and INO given as single agents were more effective than standard chemotherapy for treatment of advanced ALL, and are now being added as frontline treatment options.

 

“Older patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative leukemia have historically had very poor outcomes, with long-term survival less than 20% in several prior studies,” said Short. “This is driven both by higher risk disease features and poorer tolerance of intensive chemotherapy.”

 

The study treated 64 patients with a median age of 68 years. Among the 59 evaluable patients, 58 or 98% of them achieved a complete response. With a median follow up of 37 months, the three-year overall survival rate was 54%, with 30 patients in complete remission with no signs of minimal residual disease.

 

“The outcomes of patients who did or did not received blinatumomab were similar, although we will need more follow-up to determine whether the addition of blinatumomab will improve outcomes in the long-term,” said Short. “This trial resulted in significantly higher three-year survival rates compared to the 32% survival rates observed in a similar historical cohort of older patients treated with intensive chemotherapy. These findings may represent a new standard of care in this older population.”

MJH footer logo with red letters

Medical Journal – Houston is the leading source of healthcare business news. With extremely relevant content, late-breaking news and monthly exclusives from industry experts, MJH News has created a winning combination of must-read editorial that physicians and hospital executives eagerly anticipate month after month. MJH News is the resource that provides everything they need in one place, and it is a high honor that they rely upon Medical Journal – Houston to keep their practice or hospital on the cutting edge.

Archives