HIGH-DOSE CYTARABINE IN ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA TREATMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

High-dose cytarabine (HDAC) are administered for induction of remission as well as for consolidation therapy after complete remission, and this has become an established element in the treatment of adults with acute myeloid leukemia. Recent evidence has challenged the need for these exceptionally high-dose levels of cytarabine. In this review, we present the results of reassessment of usefulness of high-dose cytarabine for acute myeloid leukemia treatment. HDAC treatment resulted in lower relapse rate in induction and consolidation therapy than treatment with standard doses of cytarabine, especially in group of patients with favourable cytogenetic risk. Auto-BMT/allo-BMT was more beneficial in prolonging RFS than HDAC.