Sequential Chemotherapy with Mitoxantrone, Etoposide and Cytarabine for Previously Treated Acute Myeloid Leukemia: EMA 86 Regimen

EMA 86 regimen, associating mitoxantrone, 12 mg/m2/day on days 1–3, etoposide, 200 mg/m2/day as a continuous infusion on days 8–10 and cytarabine, 500 mg/m2/day as a continuous infusion on days 1–3 and 8–10, was administered to 133 patients. 70 patients had refractory AML and 63 had late first relapse. 60% achieved complete remission (CR), including 44% of refractory patients and 76% late first relapse patients (p = 0.0002). 11% died from therapy-related toxicity. Median survival is 7 months, with 11% survival at 5 years. Median disease-free survival (DFS) is 8 months, with 20% DFS at 5 years.