Objectives: Acute leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia, occurs more frequently in the elderly, a growing segment of the North American population. To evaluate our progress in the diagnosis, treatment and outcome of this condition, we reviewed our experience of all patients > or =60 years of age diagnosed with acute leukemia over a 20-year period at Saint Paul's Hospital, a university-based hospital in Vancouver, Canada.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 103 patients > or =60 years of age diagnosed with acute leukemia (acute myeloid leukemia-81; acute lymphoid leukemia-15; acute leukemia not otherwise specified-7).
Results: Median age was 72 (range 60-88) years. Bone marrow aspirate yielded cytogenetic information on 57 patients and 18 (31.6%) had an unfavourable karyotype. Fifty-three (51%) patients received induction chemotherapy (treated) and 50 (49%) were palliated (untreated). Treated patients were younger [median 67 years (range 60-79)] than untreated patients [76 years (61-88)], (P < 0.0001). Of the treated patients, 33 (62%) achieved a complete remission. The median overall survival for the group was 104 (1-2689) days, and for treated versus untreated patients-219 (1-2689) and 39 (2-1229) days, respectively (P = 0.0021). Univariate variables predictive of prolonged survival included induction chemotherapy (P = 0.0027), de novo leukemia (P = 0.0420), and younger age, with a relative increase in death in older subgroups (60-69, 70-79, 80+), (P = 0.0311). Induction chemotherapy was the only predictor of prolonged survival in multivariate analysis (P = 0.0027).
Conclusions: The prognosis of acute leukemia in older patients remains poor, and even though induction chemotherapy seem to prolong survival in patients able to receive treatment, most ultimately die of leukemia.