Faruk YILDIZ, Ahmet Muzaffer DEMİR
Acta Haematologica Oncologica Turcica - 2026;59(1):15-20
Aim: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive haematological malignancy that primarily affects older adults. Its prognosis varies widely depending on cytogenetic and molecular risk profiles, as well as age, performance status, and comorbidities. This study aimed to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics, treatment responses, and prognostic factors of patients diagnosed with AML at the Hematology Clinic of Trakya University Health Application and Research Hospital and to assess their role in treatment decision-making. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 111 patients (out of 185 adults aged >=18 years diagnosed between 2017 and 2021) for whom complete data were available. The diagnosis was established according to the World Health Organization 2016/2022 criteria. Collected data encompassed age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, Charlson comorbidity index, European LeukemiaNet 2022 risk group, induction therapies, and treatment response. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS v.26; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The median age was 66 years, with 59.5% of patients aged 60 or older. The male-to-female ratio was 1.36. Among the patients, 46% were from outside Trakya (Edirne: 29%; Kırklareli: 17%) and 8% were from abroad. Annual incidence ranged from 5.9 to 7.4 per 100,000. Among the 80 evaluable patients, 66.3% (n=53) achieved complete remission (CR), 2.5% had a partial response, and 31.3% had refractory disease. In the CR group, age and Charlson comorbidity index were significantly lower, while the proportion with ECOG 0 was significantly higher (p=0.016). The "3+7" regimen achieved a markedly higher CR rate than hypomethylating agent monotherapy (p=0.002); azacitidine + venetoclax showed comparable efficacy to "3+7" (p=0.431). Conclusion: Advanced age and a high comorbidity burden adversely affect treatment response. The "3+7" regimen remains the gold standard for fit patients, while azacitidine + venetoclax emerges as a promising, lower-toxicity alternative for elderly or unfit individuals. This study provides the first comprehensive real-world AML data from our region and may serve as a foundation for prospective research.
