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Prognosis and treatment outcome in patients with acute myeloid Leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22)

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Abstract

Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the t(8;21) karyotype generally have a favorable clinical course, but key prognostic factors remain poorly defined. This study was conducted to determine the prognoses and treatment outcomes of patients with AML with this unique cytogenetic change. A total of 22 patients with AML with t(8;21)(q22;q22) were studied. Various parameters were tested for their impact on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Another 55 patients with AML with a normal karyotype were included for comparison of clinical outcomes. Between patients with t(8;21) and those with a normal karyotype, no significant differences were noted in DFS (median survival, 15.23 vs 12.03 mo;P=.7626) and OS (median survival, 19.17 vs 18.93 mo;P=.7543). Among t(8;21)(q22;q22) patients, no clinical parameters showed a significant impact on DFS. Univariate analysis revealed that a higher platelet count (> 15·109/L) at diagnosis, a low white blood cell count (index ≤20), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as postremission therapy were associated with improved OS. On multivariate analysis, HSCT as postremission therapy and white blood cell count index < 20 remained good independent prognostic factors for OS. The data presented here suggest that t(8;21)(q22;q22) cytogenetic changes in patients with AML had prognostic significance similar to that in patients with a normal karyotype; patients who harbored either karyotype had parallel clinical outcomes. It is concluded that patients with AML with t(8;21)(q22;q22) would be compromised by treatment approaches that do not include HSCT as postremission therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Chiayi Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chih-Cheng Chen MD & Chang-Hsien Lu MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jyh-Pyng Gau MD & Yuan-Bin Yu MD

  3. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

    Kuan-Der Lee MD, PhD

  4. Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology Lo-Tung Pohai Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan

    Jie-Yu You MD

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  1. Chih-Cheng Chen MD
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  2. Jyh-Pyng Gau MD
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Correspondence to Jie-Yu You MD.

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Chen, CC., Gau, JP., Yu, YB. et al. Prognosis and treatment outcome in patients with acute myeloid Leukemia with t(8;21)(q22;q22). Adv Therapy 24, 907–920 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02849984

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