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Medical Center - University of Freiburg leads nationwide study on chemotherapy-free treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, a very malignant disease in older people

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare but very aggressive form of blood cancer that mainly affects older people and leads to an uncontrolled proliferation of immature white blood cells. A nationwide study has now been launched to investigate a new triple drug combination that is less stressful for those affected than conventional chemotherapy. Preliminary studies have already demonstrated the positive effect of the individual substances and the combination of two drugs. The aim of the DECIDER-2 study is to test the efficacy and tolerability of this new triple therapy. The study is being led by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, conducted at over 30 study centers in Germany and funded by the German Research Foundation. Interested patients can register to take part.

"We are often unable to use intensive chemotherapy, especially in older patients. With the triple combination, we could significantly improve the survival and quality of life of older AML patients," says study leader Prof. Dr. med. Michael Lübbert, senior physician at the Department of Medicine I (Specialties: Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation) of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Triple therapy: reprogramming, inducing cell death, avoiding resistance

The DECIDER-2 study builds on the results of earlier investigations. In the study, the researchers are focusing on three active substances that have already proven effective individually and in combinations of two. Low-dose, epigenetically active drugs such as decitabine reprogram the malignant cells and are better tolerated, but usually take several months to take full effect. Venetoclax, another drug, triggers programmed cell death in leukemia cells and accelerates the effect of decitabine. In addition, the vitamin A derivative all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is used, which in the preliminary study delayed the development of resistance of cancer cells to decitabine and thus enabled patients to survive longer.

The study not only records the survival and improvement in haematopoiesis in the mostly older patients undergoing treatment, but also the time that patients can spend at home rather than in hospital. Initial indications suggest that this less intensive treatment could even serve as a bridge until a blood stem cell transplant can be performed, giving such patients a chance of recovery.

So far, 67 patients have been included in the study. Over the next few years, a total of 256 patients are to take part. Interested AML patients can obtain information from the project management team by calling 0761 270 77880 or sending an email to decider-2@uniklinik-freiburg.de.

Detailed study description:www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/zks/newsletter-3/decider-2-studie.html