Race and intensity of post-remission therapy in acute myeloid leukemia

Leuk Res. 2011 Mar;35(3):346-50. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2010.07.020. Epub 2010 Aug 8.

Abstract

Background: In many cancers, including AML, blacks have poorer overall survival. We investigated whether differences in post-remission therapy (PRT) were a contributing factor.

Methods: We compared PRT cycle number and intensity and time to PRT in blacks and whites, among 460 patients with newly diagnosed AML.

Results: Blacks and whites had PRT of equal cycle intensity and number, but black patients experienced a significant delay in starting PRT (2.73 months in blacks vs. 1 month in whites, p=0.047). Overall survival was equivalent in blacks and whites.

Conclusion: PRT is delayed in blacks but does not explain differences in survival.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / ethnology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / ethnology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
  • Remission Induction
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Cytarabine
  • Mitoxantrone