Background: Acute myeloid leukemia [AML] represents 15–20% of pediatric acute leukemia. Although AML is a serious disease, it is treatable and usually curable with chemotherapy with or without a bone marrow /stem cell transplant. Several clinical features can predict complete remission and survival rate in patients with AML. There is a paucity of studies reporting treatment outcome of AML in developing countries. Here we are shedding light on treatment results and factors affecting survival of AML patients in South Egypt Cancer Institute, a tertiary care center in developing country.
Patients and Methods: Medical records of 64 newly diagnosed AML children who admitted in Pediatric Oncology Department, South Egypt Cancer Institute [SECI], Assiut University from January 2009 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed for demographic characteristics, clinical features and laboratory studies at presentation, treatment and outcome.
Results: Sixty Four patients were eligible for the study. Forty two patients [65.6%] were males and 22 [34.4%] were females. Mean age was 10.85 ± 4.30 years [range 2-18 years]. The most common subtypes were M4 [18.8%], M1 [14.1%] and M3 [12.5%]. Thirty one patients [48.4%] achieved continuous complete remission [CCR] and on regular follow up. Twelve patients [23.5%] had relapse. Death reported in 33 patients [51.5%]. Three-year overall survival [OS] was [47.8±3.5%] and three-year disease free survival [DFS] was [42.8±5.5%].
Conclusion: Nearly half of patients with AML at our center died from the disease and treatment related toxicity so Improving supportive cares facilities and Intensification of treatment should be done to reduce mortality rates and improving outcome.