Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Manuscript
  • Published:

Therapy

Idarubicin improves blast cell clearance during induction therapy in children with AML: results of study AML-BFM 93

Leukemia volume 15, pages 348–354 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

In the randomized trial AML-BFM 93 we compared 60 mg/m2/day daunorubicin with 12 mg/m2/day idarubicin for 3 days each, combined with cytarabine and etoposide during induction. Results showed a significant better blast cell reduction in the bone marrow on day 15 in patients of the idarubicin arm (25 of 144 = 17% of patients with ⩾5% blasts compared to 46 of 149 = 31% of patients after daunorubicin, Pχ2 = 0.01). This was, however, mainly seen in high risk patients treated with idarubicin (19% vs 38%, Pχ2 = 0.007). Cardiotoxicity, WHO grade 1–3 shortening fraction reduction after induction occurred in 6% patients in both arms. Bone marrow toxicity differed slightly with a median recovery time of neutrophils >500/μl of 25 days (daunorubicin) compared to 27 days (idarubicin), P = 0.05. In the total group of patients probabilities of 5 years event-free survival and disease-free survival were similar for patients treated with daunorubicin or idarubicin (49% ± 4% vs 55% ± 4% and 57% ± 4% vs 64% ± 4%, P logrank 0.29 and 0.15, respectively). However, in patients presenting with more than 5% blasts on day 15 there was a trend for a better outcome after treatment with idarubicin (P logrank 0.06). Together with the early effect seen for high risk patients these results indicate a better efficacy of idarubicin than of daunorubicin during induction with a similar rate of toxicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berman E, Heller G, Santorsa J, McKenzie S, Gee T, Kempin S, Gulati S, Andreeff M, Kolitz J, Gabrilove J, Reich L, Mayer K, Keefe D, Trainor K, Schluger A, Penenberg D, Raymond V, O'Reilly R, Jhanwar S, Young C, Clarkson B . Results of a randomized trial comparing idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia Blood 1991 77: 1666–1674

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vogler WR, Velez-Garcia E, Weiner RS, Flaum MA, Bartolucci AA, Omura GA, Gerber MC, Banks PLC . A phase III trial comparing idarubicin and daunorubicin in combination with cytarabine in acute myelogenous leukemia: a Southeastern Cancer Study Group J Clin Oncol 1992 10: 1103–1111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Wiernik PH, Banks PLC, Case DC Jr, Arlin ZA, Perlman PO, Todd MB, Ritch PS, Enck RE, Weitberg AB . Cytarabine plus idarubicin or daunorubicin as induction and consolidation therapy for previously untreated adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia Blood 1992 79: 313–319

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Carella AM, Berman E, Maraone MP, Ganzina F . Idarubicin in the treatment of acute leukemias. An overview of preclinical and clinical studies Haematologica 1990 75: 159–169

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Berman E, McBride M . Comparative cellular pharmacology of daunorubicin and idarubicin in human multidrug-resistant leukemia cells Blood 1992 79: 3267–3273

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hollingshead LM, Faulds D . Idarubicin. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic potential in the chemotherapy of cancer Drugs 1991 42: 690–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kesavan S, Lincoff AM, Young JB . Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity Ann Intern Med 1996 125: 47–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, Flandrin G, Galton DAG, Gralnick HR, Sultan C . Proposed revised criteria for the classification of acute myeloid leukemia Ann Intern Med 1985 103: 626–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, Flandrin G, Galton DAG, Gralnick HR, Sultan C . Criteria for the diagnosis of acute leukemia of megakaryocyte lineage (M7). A report of the French–American–British Cooperative Group Ann Intern Med 1985 103: 460–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bennett JM, Catovsky D, Daniel MT, Flandrin G, Galton DA, Gralnick HR, Sultan C . Proposal for the recognition of minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukaemia (AML-M0) Br J Haematol 1991 78: 325–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Creutzig U, Ritter J, Zimmermann M, Schellong G, for the AML-BFM Study Group . Does cranial irradiation reduce the risk for bone marrow relapse in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): unexpected results of the childhood AML Study BFM-87 J Clin Oncol 1993 11: 279–286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Creutzig U, Zimmermann M, Ritter J, Henze G, Graf N, Löffler H, Schellong G . Definition of a standard-risk group in children with AML Br J Haematol 1999 104: 630–639

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Cheson BD, Cassileth PA, Head DR, Schiffer CA, Bennett JM, Bloomfield CD, Brunning R, Gale RP, Grever MR, Keating MJ, Sawitsky A, Stass S, Weinstein H, Woods WG . Report of the National Cancer Institute-sponsored workshop on definitions and response in acute myeloid leukemia J Clin Oncol 1990 8: 813–819

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. The National Cancer Institute. Investigators Handbook, a manual for participants in clinical trials of investigational agents sponsored by the Division of Cancer Treatment. The National Cancer Institute, Washington 1986

  15. The AML Collaborative Group . A systemic collaborative overview of randomized trials comparing idarubicin with daunorubicn (or other anthracyclines) as induction therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia Br J Haematol 1998 103: 100–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Berman E . A review of idarubicin in acute leukemia Oncol Huntingt 1993 7: 91–98

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Panzer-Grümayer ER, Schneider M, Panzer S, Fasching K, Gadner H . Rapid molecular response during early induction chemotherapy predicts a good outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia Blood 2000 95: 790–794

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Gaynon PS, Desai AA, Bostrom BC, Hutchinson RJ, Lange BJ, Nachman JB, Reaman GH, Sather HN, Steinherz PG, Trigg ME, Tubergen DG, Uckun FM . Early response to therapy and outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a review Cancer 1997 80: 1717–1726

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Daghestani AN, Arlin Z, Leyland-Jones B, Gee TS, Empin S, Mertelsmann R, Budmann D, Schulman P, Baratz R, Williams L, Clarkson BDYCW . Phase I and II clinical and pharmacological study of 4-demethoxydaunorubicin (idarubicin) in adult patients with acute leukemia Cancer Res 1985 45: 1408–1412

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank P Stappert, E Kurzknabe and J Meltzer for excellent technical assistance and Christa Lausch for her valuable assistance in the management of the AML studies. This study was supported by the Deutsche Krebshilfe.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology/Oncology Münster, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    U Creutzig, J Ritter, M Zimmermann & J Boos

  2. Department of Hematology/Oncology Jena, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    J Hermann

  3. St Anna Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria

    H Gadner

  4. Department of Hematology/Oncology Gieβen, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    D Blütters Sawatzki

  5. Department of Hematology/Oncology Freiburg, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    CM Niemeyer

  6. Department of Hematology/Oncology Frankfurt, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    D Schwabe

  7. Department of Hematology/Oncology Heidelberg, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    B Selle

  8. Department of Hematology/Oncology Würzburg, University Children's Hospital, Germany

    J Kühl

  9. Children's Hospital, St Gallen, Switzerland

    A Feldges

Authors
  1. U Creutzig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J Ritter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M Zimmermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J Hermann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. H Gadner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D Blütters Sawatzki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. CM Niemeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. D Schwabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. B Selle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. J Boos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. J Kühl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. A Feldges
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

for the AML-BFM Study Group

Principal investigators of Study AML-BFM 93 in Germany

Principal investigators of Study AML-BFM 93 in Germany

R Mertens, Kinderklinik RWTH, Aachen; A Gnekow, I. Kinderklinik des Klinikums, Augsburg; GF Wündisch, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Bayreuth; G Henze, CCVK-Kinderklinik Berlin; E Hilgenfeld, Charité-Kinderklinik; W Dörffel, II. Kinderklinik Berlin-Buch; N Jorch Kinderklinik Gilead Bielefeld, U Bode, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Bonn; H-J Spaar/Th Lieber Prof Hess-Kinderklinik, Bremen; W Eberl, Städtische Kinderklinik, Braunschweig; I Krause, Städtische Kinderklinik Chemnitz; E Holfeld, Kinderklinik d Carl-Thiem-Klinikums Cottbus; W Andler/Th Wiesel, Vestische Kinderklinik, Datteln; I Lauterbach, Kinderklinik d TU Dresden; V Scharfe, Städtische Kinderklinik Dresden-Neustadt; G Weinmann, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Erfurt; JD Beck, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Erlangen; W Havers Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Essen; B Kornhuber, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Frankfurt; CM Niemeyer, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Freiburg; A Reiter/R Blütters-Sawatzki, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Gieβen; M Lakomek/A Pekrun, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Göttingen; JF Beck/H Weigel, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Greifswald; V Gerein Kinderklinik Gummersbach, S Burdach/T Rieβ, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Halle; H Kabisch/R Schneppenheim, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Hamburg; B Selle, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Heidelberg; N Graf, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Homburg/Saar; J Hermann, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Jena; G Nessler, Städtische Kinderklinik, Karlsruhe; Th Wehinger, Städt Kinderklinik, Kassel; M Rister, Kinderklinik Kemperhof, Koblenz; F Berthold, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Köln; W Sternschulte, Städtisches Kinderkrankenhaus, Köln; M Suttorp, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Kiel; D Körholz/K Rieske, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Leipzig; P Bucsky, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Lübeck; HCh Dominick Kinderklinik St Annastift Ludwigshafen, U Kluba, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Magdeburg; W Scheurlen, Städt Kinderklinik, Mannheim; P Gutjahr, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Mainz; H Christiansen, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Marburg; RJ Haas, v Haunersches Kinderspital, München; St Müller-Weihrich/L Stengel-Rutkowski, Kinderklinik der Technischen Universität, München-Schwabing; Ch Bender-Götze/M Führer, Universitäts-Kinderpoliklinik, München; H Jürgens, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Münster; A Jobke, Cnopfsche Kinderklinik, Nürnberg; U Schwarzer, Städtische Kinderklinik, Nürnberg; G Eggers/M Hagen, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Rostock; R Schumacher, Kinderklinik Schwerin; R Dickerhoff, Johanniter Kinderklinik, St Augustin; J Treuner, Olgahospital, Stuttgart; D Niethammer/T Klingebiel, Universitäts-Kinderklinik Tübingen; W Behnisch, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Ulm; J Kühl, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Würzburg.

Principal investigators of Austria

C Urban, Universitäts-Kinderklinik d Landeskrankenhauses Graz; FM Fink, Universitäts-Kinderklinik d Aö Landeskrankenhauses Innsbruck; K Schmitt/G Ebetsberger Landes-Kinderkrankenhaus Linz; I Slavc AKH-Universitäts-Kinderklinik Wien; H Gadner St Anna-Kinderspital Wien

Principal investigators of Switzerland

P Imbach, Kinderklinik d Kantonsspital Aarau; PA Avoledo Universitäts-Kinderspital Basel; A Feldges Ostschweizerisches Kinderspital St Gallen; M Nenadov-Beck/C Desseng CHUV-Kinderklinik Lausanne; U Caflisch Kinderspital Luzern; L Nobile Buetti Kinderklinik Hospital La Carita Locarno; F Niggli/Universitäts-Kinderklinik Zürich

The coordinators of study AML-BFM 93

J Ritter, U Creutzig, J Hermann, H Gadner, Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Münster, Jena und St Anna Kinderspital Wien

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Creutzig, U., Ritter, J., Zimmermann, M. et al. Idarubicin improves blast cell clearance during induction therapy in children with AML: results of study AML-BFM 93. Leukemia 15, 348–354 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2402046

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2402046

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links