Arsenic-Containing Qinghuang Powder () is an Alternative Treatment for Elderly Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Refusing Low-Intensity Chemotherapy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the overall survival (OS) of elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with oral arsenic-containing Qinghuang Powder (, QHP) or low-intensity chemotherapy (LIC).

METHODS:

Forty-two elderly AML patients treated with intravenous or subcutaneous LIC (1 month for each course, at least 3 courses) or oral QHP (3 months for each course, at least 2 courses) were retrospectively analyzed from January 2015 to December 2017. The main endpoints of analysis were OS and 1-, 2-, 3-year OS rates of patients, respectively. And the adverse reactions induding bone marrow suppression, digestive tract discomfort and myocardia injury were observed.

RESULTS:

Out of 42 elderly AML patients, 22 received LIC treatment and 20 received QHP treatment, according to patients' preference. There was no significant difference on OS between LIC and QHP patients (13.0 months vs. 13.5 months, >0.05). There was no significant difference on OS rates between LIC and QHP groups at 1 year (59.1% vs. 70.0%), 2 years (13.6% vs. 15%), and 3 years (4.6% vs. 5.0%, all >0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference of OS on prognosis stratification of performance status > 2 (12 months vs. 12 months), age> 75 year-old (12.0 months vs. 12.5 months), hematopoietic stem cell transplant comorbidity index >2 (12 months vs. 13 months), poor cytogenetics (12 months vs. 8 months), and diagnosis of secondary AML (10 months vs. 14 months) between LIC and QHP patients (>0.05).

CONCLUSION:

QHP may be an alternative treatment for elderly AML patients refusing LIC therapy.

• Authors: Teng Fan, Ri-Cheng Quan, Wei-Yi Liu, Hai-Yan Xiao, Xu-Dong Tang, Chi Liu, Liu Li, Yan Lv, Hong-Zhi Wang, Yong-Gang Xu, Xiao-Qing Guo, Xiao-Mei Hu
• Journal: Chinese journal of integrative medicine (Chin J Integr Med) Vol. 26 Issue 5 Pg. 339-344 (May 2020) ISSN: 1672-0415 [Print] China
• PMID: 31848890 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Arsenicals
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Powders
• qinghuang

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Arsenicals (therapeutic use)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (drug therapy, mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Powders
• Retrospective Studies