Outcomes of Patients With Relapsed Core Binding Factor-Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia

To determine the factors associated with outcomes in patients with core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) in first relapse.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 92 patients with CBF-AML in first relapse who presented to our institution from 1990-2014. Clinical and demographic parameters were included in univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model to predict overall survival.

Among the 92 relapsed patients, 60 (65%) patients had inv (16) and 32 (35%) had t (8;21). The median survival for patients with inv(16) cytogenetic group was 15.6 months (range 10.32 to 20.88 months) while for the t(8;21) group was 9 months (range 3.68 to 14.32) (P = .004). Univariate Cox model analysis showed that increased age, high white blood cell count, t (8;21) cytogenetic group, and high bone marrow blast percentage were associated with poor overall outcome, while stem cell transplant intervention was associated with better survival. Additional cytogenetic aberrations at relapse were not associated with survival outcomes (P = .4). Multivariate Cox model analysis showed that t(8;21) cytogenetic group has more hazard of death after adjusting, age, marrow blast percentage, blood cell count, and stem cell transplant(hazard ratio 1.802; P = .02).

Among patients with relapsed CBF-AML, median survival was less than a year and half and the outcome was worse in patients with t (8;21). Despite the relatively better outcomes, dedicated clinical trials are needed to improve the outcome in all patients with relapsed CBF-AML.