Comparison of survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with oral arsenic-containing Qinghuang Powder and low intensive chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective To investigate the survival of oral arsenic-containing Qinghuang Powder (QHP) and low intensive chemotherapy (LIC) in the treatment of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods Forty-two AML patients older than 60 years in Xiyuan Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Of them, 20 cases were treated with QHP (QHP group), 22 cases were treated with LIC (LIC group). The survivals of the two groups were compared. Results There was no significant difference of median survival time (13 months vs. 13.5 months, χ2= 0.096, P= 0.757), 1-year survival rates (59.1% vs. 70.0%, χ2= 0.543, P= 0.461), 2-year survival rates (13.6% vs. 15.0%, χ2= 0.016, P > 0.05), and 3-year survival rates (4.6% vs. 5.0%, χ2= 0.005, P > 0.05) between LIC and QHP groups. There was no significant difference of median survival time in age ≥75 year (12 months vs. 12.5 months, χ2= 1.317, P= 0.251), performance status scores > 2 (12 months vs. 12 months, χ2= 0.834, P= 0.361), hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with combined disease index > 2 (12 months vs. 13 months, χ2= 1.726, P= 0.189), secondary AML (10 months vs. 14 months, χ2= 1.552, P= 0.213), and poor cytogenetics (12 months vs. 8 months, χ2=0.479, P= 0.489) between LIC and QHP group. Conclusion The survival of elderly AML patients is considerable in patients treated with oral QHP and LIC, which suggests that oral QHP may be an equivalent alternative treatment since elderly AML (especially more than 75 years) patients refused to LIC therapy. Key words: Leukemia, myeloid, acute; Low intensive chemotherapy; Qinghuang Powder; Elderly