Two-drug versus three-drug induction chemotherapy in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: a randomized controlled trial

The benefit of three-drug induction chemotherapy over a two-drug induction has not been evaluated in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We, therefore, conducted a randomized controlled trial to ascertain the benefit of a three-drug induction regimen. Patients aged 1–18 years with newly diagnosed AML were randomized to two cycles of induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin and ara-C (DA) or two cycles of ara-C, daunorubicin, and etoposide (ADE). After induction, patients in both arms received consolidation with two cycles of high-dose ara-C. The study’s primary objective was to compare the event-free survival (EFS) between the two arms. The secondary objectives included comparing the composite complete remission (cCR) rates, overall survival (OS), and toxicities. The study randomized 149 patients, 77 in the DA and 72 in the ADE arm. The median age was 8.7 years, and 92 (62%) patients were males. The median follow-up was 50.9 months. The cCR rate in the DA and ADE arm were 82% and 79% (p = 0.68) after the second induction. There were 13 (17%) induction deaths in the DA arm and 12 (17%) in the ADE arm (p = 0.97). The 5-year EFS in the DA and ADE arm was 34.4% and 34.5%, respectively (p = 0.66). The 5-year OS in the DA and ADE arms was 41.4% and 42.09%, respectively (p = 0.74). There were no significant differences in toxicities between the regimens. There was no statistically significant difference in EFS, OS, CR, or toxicity between ADE and DA regimens in pediatric AML. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (Reference number: CTRI/2014/11/005202).