Azacitidine and lenalidomide as an alternative treatment for refractory acute myeloid leukemia: a case report.

Background: Refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a difficult disease to control with second or third-line chemotherapy regimens. In this report, we describe using azacitidine in combination with lenalidomide as salvage therapy.

Methods: 52-year-old female was diagnosed with refractory AML and high-risk cytogenetics: complex monosomal karyotype consisting of t (3, 3) in association with monosomy 7 and del 5q. Morphological remission associated with maintenance of the cytogenetic abnormality of chromosome 3 and disappearance of the abnormalities relating to chromosomes 5 and 7 was achieved after three cycles of combination therapy with azacitidine and lenalidomide.

Conclusions: Azacitidine plus lenalidomide can be a therapeutic option for patients with refractory AML, as illustrated in this case.