Elderly do benefit from induction chemotherapy: High dose mitoxantrone-based ("5 + 1") induction chemotherapy regimen in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.

An intensive "5 + 1" regimen, which included bolus high dose cytarabine (HiDAC) at 3 g/m2 once daily over 3 hours on days 1-5 and high dose mitoxantrone (HDM) 80 mg/m2 on day 2, was evaluated in 101 consecutively treated newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients at a single center since 2009. The median age was 65 (range 18-90) years. The 4 and 8-week mortality in our cohort was 3/101 (2.9%) and 7/99 (7%), respectively. The overall response (complete remission [CR] + CRi) was 76.2% (77/101). The median overall survival (OS) stratified by age group <60, 60-69 and ≥70 years were 56, 31 and 9 months respectively (log-rank, P = 0.02). 51.7% (45/84) of patients with intermediate/adverse risk category proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplants. Among these 84 patients, the percentage of patients able to proceed to transplant in age groups <60, 60-69, and ≥ 70 years were 75% (18/24), 60.7% (17/28), and 31.2% (10/32), respectively. In conclusion, HDM-based chemotherapy regimen produces high CR rates, is well tolerated and more patients can undergo curative postremission therapy including stem cell transplant.

Pilot Study of a Patient-Centered Radiology Process Model.

PURPOSE: The Radiology Process Model (RPM) was previously described in terms of its conceptual basis and proposed survey items. The current study describes the first pilot application of the RPM in the field and the results of initial psychometric analysis. METHODS: We used an Institutional Review Board-approved pilot RPM survey in 100 patients having outpatient interventional radiology procedures. The 24 survey items had 4 or 5 levels of severity. We assessed for missing data, items that patients found confusing, any suggestions by patients for additional items and clarity of items from patient feedback. Factor analysis was performed and internal consistency measured. Construct validity was assessed by correlation of patient responses to the items as a summated scale with a visual analog scale (VAS) they completed indicating their interventional radiology experience. RESULTS: The visual analog scale and the RPM summated scale were strongly correlated (r = 0.7). Factor analysis showed four factors: interactions with facility and doctors/staff, time-sensitive aspects, pain, and anxiety. The items showed high internal consistency (alpha: 0.86) as a group and approximately 0.7 to 0.9 by the factors. Analysis shows that two items could be deleted (cost and communication between radiologist and referrers). Revision of two items and potential addition of others are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The RPM shows initial evidence of psychometric validity and internal consistency reliability. Minor changes are anticipated before wider use.