Enhancing effect of β-elemene emulsion on chemotherapy with harringtonine, aclacinomycin, and Ara-c in treatment of refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia

Objective: This study is to determine the curative effect of β-elemene emulsion on chemotherapy in the treatment of refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Methods: In the β-elemene emulsion plus HAA chemotherapy (harringtonine, aclacinomycin, Ara-c group) group, 120 cases received β-elemene emulsion (400 mg) plus the HAA treatment. A 14-day treatment was a course of treatment, followed by an 8-14 day pause, and then the next course of treatment. The HAA treatment included Ara-C, 100 mg/m2, once every 12 h from day 1 to day 7; aclacinomycin, 20 mg/m2, from day 1 to day 7; and homoharringtonine, 4 mg/m2, from day 1 to day 7. The patients in the control HAA group received HAA treatment only. For both groups, effective antibiotics were given to patients when it was necessary.

Results: The total effective rate in the β-elemene emulsion plus HAA group was 80.8%. But the total effective rate in the HAA only group was 52.9%. These results suggest that the β-elemene emulsion plus HAA treatment has a much better curative effect in comparison with the HAA only treatment (P < 0.05). Furthermore, β-elemene emulsion has slightly adverse response, without causing blood and bone marrow depression.

Conclusion: β-elemene emulsion has a curative effect in treatment of refractory/relapsed AML in combination with harringtonine, aclacinomycin, and Ara-c.