CPX-351 vs daunorubicin, cytarabine, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin in older adults with non–adverse-risk AML: the NCRI AML18 trial
We compared daunorubicin/cytarabine plus fractionated gemtuzumab ozogamicin (DAGO2) with CPX-351 (CPX; 1:2 randomization) in 439 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) aged ≥60 years (median age, 68 years) without known adverse-risk cytogenetics. Median follow-up was 35 months. Patients not in measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative remission after course 1 could enter a second randomization between standard and intensified chemotherapy. Post-course 1, the overall response rate (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematological recovery) was greater after DAGO2 (60% vs 47.5%; odds ratio [OR], 0.61; P = .016). Following course 2, the overall response was not significantly different (85% for DAGO2 vs 78% for CPX; P = .095). More patients attained CR with MRD negativity after course 1 in the DAGO2 arm (47% vs 29% for CPX; OR, 0.46; P = .004). We observed better 3-year event-free survival (34% vs 27%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; P = .012) and overall survival (52% vs 35%; HR, 0.62; P = .001) with DAGO2. CPX did not provide a survival benefit in patients with myelodysplasia (MDS)-related mutations and was associated with poorer survival in patients with NPM1 (HR, 2.83) and FLT3 mutations (HR, 2.14). Overall, 37% of patients underwent transplantation in first remission, with no difference in transplantation frequency or survival after transplant between randomization groups. Among patients entering the course 2 randomization (n = 107), survival was equivalent between standard and intensified CPX doses (P = .565). In conclusion, in this population of older patients with AML without known adverse-risk cytogenetics, DAGO2 resulted in superior survival compared with CPX. CPX did not benefit patients with MDS-related mutations over DAGO2. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT02272478.
Authors
- Richard Dillon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9333-5296)
- Steven Knapper (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6405-4441)
- Simone Green
- Ian Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8395-8075)
- Abin Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8283-6762)
- Malavika Babu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3479-529X)
- Thomas Coats (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4341-4361)
- Amanda Gilkes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2236-8852)
- Louisa Stone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2750-4757)
- Sylvie Freeman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1869-180X)
- Rob S. Sellar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0472-7034)
- Nigel H. Russell (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1893-8155)
- Robert K. Hills (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0166-0062)
- Mike Dennis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2540-8673)
- Priyanka Mehta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8561-1705)
- Georgia Andrew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5871-2885)
- Laura W. Dillon
- Christopher Simon Hourigan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6189-8067)
- Ulrik Malthe Overgaard
- Jenny Byrne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9381-1851)
- Sophie King
- Reem Bahr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1608-712X)
- Nicholas McCarthy
- Nuria Marquez-Almuina
- Rasha W Al-Ali
Institutions
- University College Hospital (GB)
- North Bristol NHS Trust (GB)
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (GB)
- King's College - North Carolina (US)
- King's College London (GB)
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Castle Hill Hospital (GB)
- Auckland City Hospital (NZ)
- Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
- Rigshospitalet (DK)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (US)
- Cancer Research Center (US)
- The Christie Hospital (GB)
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Biomedical Research Institute (US)
- University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Cardiff University (GB)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- Cardiff Metropolitan University (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Blood
- Published
- 2025-11-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2025031006
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.54
Funders
- Amgen
- Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Pfizer
- AstraZeneca
- Celgene
- National Cancer Research Institute
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals
- Cancer Research UK
- Astellas Pharma
- Servier
- Daiichi Sankyo Europe