Table 2.

Clinical outcomes, including response, survival, and notable toxicities in clinical trials of current frontline acute myeloid leukemia therapies

PhasePatient populationTherapy armsSample sizeCROther clinical parameters: duration of response, PFS, OSNotable toxicitiesReferenceTake-Home
Grade ≥3 AEsFrequency
Age 17-60 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 318 57.3%* OS 15.7 mo* Cardiac 7.2% (ns) Fernandez et al47  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 improves upon 45 mg/m2 
F + N 34.9% (ns) 
Death 4.5% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 315 70.6%* OS 23.7 mo* Cardiac 7.9% (ns) 
F + N 35.9% (ns) 
Death 5.5% (ns) 
Age ≥60 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 × 3 d + Cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 411 54%* 2-y EFS (age 60-65 y) 14%* Infection 79%* Löwenberg et al48  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 improves upon 45 mg/m2 but up to age 65 y 
2-y OS (age 60-65 y) 23%* 30-d mortality 12% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 402 64%* 2-y EFS (age 60-65 y) 29%* Infection 87%* 
2-y OS (age 60-65 y) 38%* 30-d mortality 11% (ns) 
Age 16-72 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 602 75% (ns) 2-y OS 60% (ns) 60-d mortality 5%* Burnett et al49  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 is not superior to 60 mg/m2 
2-y RFS 48% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 604 73% (ns) 2-y OS 59% (ns) 60-d mortality 10%* 
2-y RFS 51% (ns) 
Age 18-59 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Placebo + daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 354 53.5% (ns) mOS 25.6 mo* F + N 82% (ns) Stone et al50  Midostaurin with induction chemotherapy is approved for newly diagnosed FLT3-mutant AML 
4-y OS 44.3% (ns) 
Midostaurin + daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 335 58.8% (ns) mOS 74.7 mo* F + N 82% (ns) 
4-y OS 51.4% (ns) 
Age 50-70 y
Treatment-naïve AML, CD33 expression not required 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 139 72% (ns) 2-y EFS 17.1%* TRM 8% (P = .051) Castaigne et al51  GO + induction chemotherapy is approved for newly diagnosed CD33+ AML 
2-y OS 41.9% 
2-y RFS 22.7%* 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d + gemtuzumab ozogamicin (3 mg/m2139 73% (ns) 2-y EFS 40.8%* TRM 2% (P = .051) 
2-y OS 53.2%* 
2-y RFS 50.3%* 
Age 60-75 y t-AML, s-AML, or de novo AML with MDS-related cytogenetic abnormalities Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 156 25.6%* mOS 5.95* F + N 70.9% (ns) Lancet et al CPX-351 is approved for t-AML, s-AML, or de novo AML with MDS-related changes 
mEFS 1.31mo* 
CPX-351 100 U/m2 (44mg/m2 daunorubicin and 100mg/m2 cytarabine) 153 37.3%* mOS 9.56mo* F + N 68% (ns) 
mEFS 2.53mo* 
Primarily age >60 y Hydroxyurea 99 1%* OS odds ratio 0.61* Cardiac 11% (ns) Burnett et al52  Single-agent LDAC is a low-intensity option 
LDAC 20 mg bid 103 18%* Cardiac 10% (ns) 
Age ≥65 y
Treatment-naïve AML, >30% bone marrow blasts 
Conventional care regimens (induction, LDAC, BSC only) 247 21.9% (ns) mOS 6.5 mo* F + N 30% (ns) Dombret et al53  Single-agent azacitidine is a low-intensity option 
1-y OS 34.2%* 
mEFS 4.8 mo (ns) 
mRFS 10.5 mo (ns) 
Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 241 19.5% (ns) mOS 10.4 mo* (benefit driven by comparison of azacitidine with BSC) F + N 28% (ns) 
1-y OS 46.5%* 
mEFS 6.7 mo (ns) 
mRFS 9.3 mo (ns) 
Age ≥65 y
Treatment-naïve AML with poor- or intermediate-risk cytogenetics 
Treatment choice (supportive care, LDAC 20 mg/m2243 CR + CRp: 7.8%* mOS (ITT) 5.0 mo* F + N 22% Kantarjian et al54  Single-agent decitabine is a low-intensity option 
Decitabine 20 mg/m2 242 CR + CRp: 17.8%* mOS (ITT) 7.7 mo* F + N 32% 
Age ≥75 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Placebo + azacitidine 75/mg/m2 145 17.9%* 9.6 mo* F + N 19% DiNardo et al Led to accelerated approval for venetoclax + HMA for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Venetoclax 400mg + azacitidine 75 mg/m2 286 36.7%* 14.7 mo* F + N 42% 
Age ≥ 18 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for intensive chemotherapy 
Placebo + LDAC 20 mg bid 68 7%* mOS 4.1 mo* F + N 29% Wei et al 10  Led to accelerated approval for venetoclax + LDAC for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Venetoclax 600 mg + LDAC 20 mg bid 143 27%* mOS 8.4 mo* F + N 32% 
Age ≥55 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy; high-risk MDS included 
LDAC 20mg bid 44 2.3%* mOS 4.9mo* F + N 24.4% Cortes et al11  Glasdegib + LDAC approved for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Glasdegib + LDAC 20mg bid 88 17.0%* mOS 8.8mo* F + N 35.7% 
Age 64-87 y
IDH1-mutated, treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Single-agent ivosidenib 500 mg 34 30.3% mOS 12.6 mo F + N 6% Roboz et al33  Led to approval of ivosidenib for adults age ≥75 y with IDH1-mutant AML 
12-mo OS 51.1% Differentiation syndrome 9% 
1/2 Age 58-87 y
IDH2-mutant, treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Single-agent enasidenib 39 18% ORR 30.8% TLS 8% Pollyea et al55  Enasidenib as frontline therapy for IDH2-mutant AML has some benefit but is not yet approved 
mOS 11.3 mo Differentiation syndrome 10% 
mEFS 5.7 mo 
Age >60 y
Newly diagnosed AML, newly diagnosed sAML, treated sAML, relapsed/refractory AML, high-risk MDS 
Venetoclax 400 mg + 10 d of decitabine 20 mg/m2 184 CR + CRi or marrow CR: 86% (newly-diagnosed AML) mOS 18.1 mo (newly diagnosed AML) F + N with infection 46% Maiti et al44  Venetoclax with 10-d decitabine is an emerging treatment option 
67% (untreated sAML) mOS 7.8 mo (untreated sAML) F + N 28% 
39% (treated sAML) mOS 6.0 mo (treated sAML) 
42% (R/R AML) mOS 7.8 mo (R/R AML) 
PhasePatient populationTherapy armsSample sizeCROther clinical parameters: duration of response, PFS, OSNotable toxicitiesReferenceTake-Home
Grade ≥3 AEsFrequency
Age 17-60 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 318 57.3%* OS 15.7 mo* Cardiac 7.2% (ns) Fernandez et al47  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 improves upon 45 mg/m2 
F + N 34.9% (ns) 
Death 4.5% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 315 70.6%* OS 23.7 mo* Cardiac 7.9% (ns) 
F + N 35.9% (ns) 
Death 5.5% (ns) 
Age ≥60 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 × 3 d + Cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 411 54%* 2-y EFS (age 60-65 y) 14%* Infection 79%* Löwenberg et al48  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 improves upon 45 mg/m2 but up to age 65 y 
2-y OS (age 60-65 y) 23%* 30-d mortality 12% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 402 64%* 2-y EFS (age 60-65 y) 29%* Infection 87%* 
2-y OS (age 60-65 y) 38%* 30-d mortality 11% (ns) 
Age 16-72 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 602 75% (ns) 2-y OS 60% (ns) 60-d mortality 5%* Burnett et al49  Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 is not superior to 60 mg/m2 
2-y RFS 48% (ns) 
Daunorubicin 90 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 604 73% (ns) 2-y OS 59% (ns) 60-d mortality 10%* 
2-y RFS 51% (ns) 
Age 18-59 y
Treatment-naïve AML 
Placebo + daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 354 53.5% (ns) mOS 25.6 mo* F + N 82% (ns) Stone et al50  Midostaurin with induction chemotherapy is approved for newly diagnosed FLT3-mutant AML 
4-y OS 44.3% (ns) 
Midostaurin + daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 335 58.8% (ns) mOS 74.7 mo* F + N 82% (ns) 
4-y OS 51.4% (ns) 
Age 50-70 y
Treatment-naïve AML, CD33 expression not required 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d 139 72% (ns) 2-y EFS 17.1%* TRM 8% (P = .051) Castaigne et al51  GO + induction chemotherapy is approved for newly diagnosed CD33+ AML 
2-y OS 41.9% 
2-y RFS 22.7%* 
Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 200 mg/m2 × 7 d + gemtuzumab ozogamicin (3 mg/m2139 73% (ns) 2-y EFS 40.8%* TRM 2% (P = .051) 
2-y OS 53.2%* 
2-y RFS 50.3%* 
Age 60-75 y t-AML, s-AML, or de novo AML with MDS-related cytogenetic abnormalities Daunorubicin 60 mg/m2 × 3 d + cytarabine 100 mg/m2 × 7 d 156 25.6%* mOS 5.95* F + N 70.9% (ns) Lancet et al CPX-351 is approved for t-AML, s-AML, or de novo AML with MDS-related changes 
mEFS 1.31mo* 
CPX-351 100 U/m2 (44mg/m2 daunorubicin and 100mg/m2 cytarabine) 153 37.3%* mOS 9.56mo* F + N 68% (ns) 
mEFS 2.53mo* 
Primarily age >60 y Hydroxyurea 99 1%* OS odds ratio 0.61* Cardiac 11% (ns) Burnett et al52  Single-agent LDAC is a low-intensity option 
LDAC 20 mg bid 103 18%* Cardiac 10% (ns) 
Age ≥65 y
Treatment-naïve AML, >30% bone marrow blasts 
Conventional care regimens (induction, LDAC, BSC only) 247 21.9% (ns) mOS 6.5 mo* F + N 30% (ns) Dombret et al53  Single-agent azacitidine is a low-intensity option 
1-y OS 34.2%* 
mEFS 4.8 mo (ns) 
mRFS 10.5 mo (ns) 
Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 241 19.5% (ns) mOS 10.4 mo* (benefit driven by comparison of azacitidine with BSC) F + N 28% (ns) 
1-y OS 46.5%* 
mEFS 6.7 mo (ns) 
mRFS 9.3 mo (ns) 
Age ≥65 y
Treatment-naïve AML with poor- or intermediate-risk cytogenetics 
Treatment choice (supportive care, LDAC 20 mg/m2243 CR + CRp: 7.8%* mOS (ITT) 5.0 mo* F + N 22% Kantarjian et al54  Single-agent decitabine is a low-intensity option 
Decitabine 20 mg/m2 242 CR + CRp: 17.8%* mOS (ITT) 7.7 mo* F + N 32% 
Age ≥75 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Placebo + azacitidine 75/mg/m2 145 17.9%* 9.6 mo* F + N 19% DiNardo et al Led to accelerated approval for venetoclax + HMA for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Venetoclax 400mg + azacitidine 75 mg/m2 286 36.7%* 14.7 mo* F + N 42% 
Age ≥ 18 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for intensive chemotherapy 
Placebo + LDAC 20 mg bid 68 7%* mOS 4.1 mo* F + N 29% Wei et al 10  Led to accelerated approval for venetoclax + LDAC for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Venetoclax 600 mg + LDAC 20 mg bid 143 27%* mOS 8.4 mo* F + N 32% 
Age ≥55 y
Treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy; high-risk MDS included 
LDAC 20mg bid 44 2.3%* mOS 4.9mo* F + N 24.4% Cortes et al11  Glasdegib + LDAC approved for patients ineligible for intensive therapy 
Glasdegib + LDAC 20mg bid 88 17.0%* mOS 8.8mo* F + N 35.7% 
Age 64-87 y
IDH1-mutated, treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Single-agent ivosidenib 500 mg 34 30.3% mOS 12.6 mo F + N 6% Roboz et al33  Led to approval of ivosidenib for adults age ≥75 y with IDH1-mutant AML 
12-mo OS 51.1% Differentiation syndrome 9% 
1/2 Age 58-87 y
IDH2-mutant, treatment-naïve AML, ineligible for standard therapy 
Single-agent enasidenib 39 18% ORR 30.8% TLS 8% Pollyea et al55  Enasidenib as frontline therapy for IDH2-mutant AML has some benefit but is not yet approved 
mOS 11.3 mo Differentiation syndrome 10% 
mEFS 5.7 mo 
Age >60 y
Newly diagnosed AML, newly diagnosed sAML, treated sAML, relapsed/refractory AML, high-risk MDS 
Venetoclax 400 mg + 10 d of decitabine 20 mg/m2 184 CR + CRi or marrow CR: 86% (newly-diagnosed AML) mOS 18.1 mo (newly diagnosed AML) F + N with infection 46% Maiti et al44  Venetoclax with 10-d decitabine is an emerging treatment option 
67% (untreated sAML) mOS 7.8 mo (untreated sAML) F + N 28% 
39% (treated sAML) mOS 6.0 mo (treated sAML) 
42% (R/R AML) mOS 7.8 mo (R/R AML) 

*Denotes statistical significance with p < 0.05. AE, adverse event; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; bid, twice daily; CR, complete remission; CRi, complete remission with incomplete count recovery; HMA, hypomethylating agent; ITT, intention to treat; LDAC, low-dose cytarabine; MDS, myelodysplastic syndrome; OS, overall survival; PFS, progression-free survival; t-AML, therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia. TLS, tumor lysis syndrome; sAML, secondary AML; R/R, relapsed/refractory; ns, not statistically significant with p > 0.05; F+N, fever and neutropenia; GO, gemtuzumab ozogamicin; mRFS, median relapse-free survival; mEFS, median event-free survival; mOS, median overall survival; EFS, event-free survival; CBF, core binding factor; BSC, best supportive care; CRp; CR without platelet recover.

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