Use of gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Objective: To analyze the outcome of patients treated withgemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with conventional therapy treatedat Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Methods: 14 patients who hadhigh risk features (secondary leukemia, unfavorable cytogenetics,and refractory disease) were treated with gemtuzumab ozogamycincombined with conventional therapy and their outcome was analysedby reviewing their medical records. Results: Overall response rate was58%, with 43% achieving complete response, with a median followupof 11 months, event-free survival was 3 months. Eleven patientsdied, 6 of them due to refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Only fourpatients presented with grade 3 to 4 toxicities and only one patienthad sinusoidal obstruction syndrome after bone marrow transplant.Conclusion: gemtuzumab ozogamycin combined with chemotherapyis a feasible treatment regimen in acute myeloid leukemia patients.However, further studies are necessary to clarify which subgroup ofpatients may benefit from this treatment.