Augmented and standard Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster chemotherapy for treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster (aBFM) regimen has demonstrated improved outcomes in children with acute lymphomblastic leukemia (ALL), but efficacy in adults is unknown. In this retrospective study, we evaluated clinical outcomes in 29 adult ALL patients (aged 19-70) treated with standard BFM (sBFM) or dose-intensive aBFM. Patients were stratified into risk groups based on age, cytogenetic abnormalities, peripheral leukocytosis and response to induction chemotherapy. Inter-mediate risk patients less than 50 years old and all high-risk patients were assigned to aBFM. Complete remission after induction therapy was achieved in 93% of patients. Fifteen patients completed a full course of BFM chemotherapy, with seven discontinuing because of relapse, three because of toxicity, two because of transplantation and two toxic deaths. Five-year event-free survival (EFS) was 45% (95% CI 30-67%), with 39% and 50% rates of EFS observed in the aBFM and sBFM subgroups at 5 years, respectively. Overall survival at 5 years was 62% (95% CI 46-82%), with 61% and 62% in the aBFM and sBFM subgroups alive at 5 years, respectively. Two toxic deaths were observed, and infections and neuropathy were the most common toxicities. sBFM and aBFM have efficacy and toxicity comparable with other adult ALL regimens.