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The most effective post-remission treatment to maintain complete remission (CR) in adults aged between 46 and 60 years with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is uncertain. Previously untreated patients with AML in CR after induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytarabine were randomized between two intensive courses of consolidation therapy containing high-dose cytarabine, combined with amsacrine or daunorubicin and a standard consolidation and maintenance therapy containing standard dose cytarabine and daunorubicin. One hundred fifty-eight CR patients were assigned to the intensive group and 157 patients to the standard group. After a median follow-up of 7.5 years, the 4-year survival rate was 32 % in the intensive group versus 34 % in the standard group ( P = 0.29). In the intensive group, the 4-year relapse incidence was lower than in the standard group: 55 and 75 %, respectively ( P = 0.0003), whereas treatment-related mortality incidence was higher: 22 versus 3 % ( P < 0.0001). Two intensive consolidation courses containing high-dose cytarabine as post-remission treatment in patients with AML aged between 46 and 60 years old did not translate in better long-term outcome despite a 20 % lower relapse incidence. Better supportive care and prevention of treatment-related complications may improve the overall survival after intensified post-remission therapy in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the lack of major improvements in the treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), there are recent indications that the survival of patients might have increased over the years. This study was aimed at ascertaining whether survival prolongation has actually occurred in PMF., Patients and Methods: A total of 802 patients diagnosed with PMF in four European countries were compared for the presentation of features and survival according to the diagnostic periods 1980 to 1995 (n = 434) and 1996 to 2007 (n = 368); relative survival was estimated for the two groups., Results: Patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2007 more often had constitutional symptoms (31% v 23%) but a lower incidence of marked anemia (31% v 39%), leukocytosis greater than 25 × 10(9)/L (9% v 13%), and blood blasts (27% v 33%); risk distribution was comparable between the two groups. Median survival was 4.6 years (95% CI, 4.0 to 5.1) for patients from 1980 to 1995 and 6.5 years (95% CI, 5.5 to 7.4) for patients from 1996 to 2007 (P < .001). The latter group of patients showed improved relative survival, especially for women, patients younger than age 65 years, and patients with low or intermediate-1-risk disease. Rates of PMF-attributable mortality at 5 and 10 years were significantly lower in the second period; this reduction in disease-specific mortality occurred across all patient subgroups, except in intermediate-2-risk or high-risk patients., Conclusion: Survival of PMF is steadily improving, except in patients in poor-risk categories. This observation must be taken into account at the time of evaluating the survival impact of newer therapies for PMF, which are currently being tested in these patient subpopulations.