Treatment of a Child with Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia with Humanized Anti-CD33 Monoclonal Antibody: A Case Report and Review of Drug Development

Background: The induction chemotherapy regimen for acute myeloid leukemia has evolved as once induction is completed; patients progress through the consolidation phase and achieve remission in 76% of cases. For patients with relapsed or refractory disease, alternative chemotherapy agents are available. Monoclonal antibody therapy with biological agents, such as the immunotoxin gemtuzumab ozogamicin has been recently used to induce remissionin relapsed patients. Report of the case: Here, we report the first Iranian child, an 8-year-old boy, with refractory acute myeloid leukemia who was treated with gemtuzumab ozogamicin. Unfortunately, remission was not achieved and the patient died of neutropenia and septic shock. Conclusion: Gemtuzumab ozogamicin therapy in our case was not successful in achieving remission. It could be due to longstanding chemotherapy and its detrimental effects on bone marrow of the patient. Further controlled studies are necessary to learn more about efficacy and safety of this new treatment.