Comparison of efficacy of HCAG and CAG re-induction chemotherapy in elderly low- and intermediate-risk group patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia

Purpose The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and severity of adverse effects of HCAG and CAG re-induction chemotherapy in elderly low- and intermediate-risk group patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following induction failure. Methods A total of 94 AML patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 46 were treated with HCAG chemotherapy, while 48 were treated with CAG chemotherapy. Result The complete remission (CR) was 39.6% in the patients with HCAG, while the CR was 33.3% in the CAG group. The overall remission (ORR) was 63.0% and 43.5% in patients of the HCAG and CAG groups, respectively ( P = 0.038). The median survival time of progression free survival (PFS) was 8.0 (95% CI 3.843–10.157) months in the HCAG group and 7.0 (95% CI 2.682–13.318) months in the CAG group ( P = 0.032). A total of 31 patients in the HCAG group suffered from grade 4 hematological toxicity, whereas 29 patients were treated with CAG ( P = 0.622). A total of 27 (58.7%) cases indicated apparent pulmonary infection in the HCAG group, while 25 (52.1%) were noted with this complication in the CAG group ( P = 0.519). Oral cavity toxicity was evident for 13 (28.3%) and 11 (23.0%) cases in the HCAG and CAG groups, respectively ( P = 0.216). Conclusion The HCAG regimen was more effective than the CAG regimen in elderly low- and intermediate-risk group patients diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia although the HCAG regimen exhibited similar toxicity with that of the CAG group.