The cost-effectiveness of idarubicin/cytosine arabinoside versus daunorubicin/cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of adults with acute myeloid leukemia

The cost-effectiveness of two chemotherapeutic regimens was evaluated from the results of a randomized clinical trial involving patients with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia. The evaluable subjects were 120 patients with acute myeloid leukemia randomly assigned to receive 12 mg/m2 of idarubicin (IDA) or 50 mg/m2 of daunorubicin (DNR) daily for three days. The patients also received 200 mg/m2 of cytosine arabinoside daily for five days, with an additional 25-mg/m2 bolus on the first day of treatment, the patients underwent a second course at the same doses. The total hospital charges per patient were $59,687 for IDA treatment and $59,567 for DNR treatment; however, the cost per complete remission was lower in the IDA than in the DNR patients ($74,609 vs $102,115). The lower remission rate in the DNR-treated patients, and thus their need for additional care, will increase the cost differences between the two treatments. The hospital charges per year of survival were $36,395 for IDA treatment and $52,714 for DNR treatment. It is concluded that IDA is more cost-effective than DNR in the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia.

Results of a randomized trial comparing idarubicin and cytosine arabinoside with daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside in adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myelogenous leukemia

4'-Demethoxydaunorubicin (idarubicin [IDR]) is a new anthracycline that differs from its parent compound by the deletion of a methoxy group at position 4 of the chromophore ring. This minor structural modification results in a more lipophilic compound with a unique metabolite that has a prolonged plasma half-life as well as in vitro and in vivo antileukemia activity. To determine its activity in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 130 consecutive adult patients between the ages of 16 and 60 with newly diagnosed disease were randomized in a single institution study to receive either IDR in combination with cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) or standard therapy with daunorubicin (DNR) and Ara-C. The trial was analyzed using the O'Brien-Fleming multiple testing design that allowed for periodic inspection of the data at specific patient accession points. After accrual of 60 patients per arm, analysis showed that patients who received IDR/Ara-C had a superior response compared with those who received standard therapy: 48 of 60 patients (80%) achieved complete remission on the former arm compared with 35 of 60 patients on the latter (58%, P = .005). Logistic regression analysis of factors associated with complete response indicated that treatment with IDR/Ara-C offered a significant advantage to patients who presented with a high initial white blood cell count compared with treatment with DNR/Ara-C. The degree of marrow aplasia was approximately the same on each arm as was nonhematologic toxicity. Overall survival for patients on the IDR/Ara-C arm was 19.5 months compared with 13.5 months on the DNR/Ara-C arm (P = .025) at a median follow-up of 2.5 years. We conclude that IDR/Ara-C can effectively replace standard therapy with DNR/Ara-C in adult patients less than age 60 with newly diagnosed AML.