Intensive chemotherapy versus hypomethylating agents for newly diagnosed AML in patients aged 70 years or older

The outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia in patients aged 70 years or older is poor. There is no consensus on the choice between intensive chemotherapy and hypomethylating agents for these patients. Analysis of a European multicentric database found that among patients aged 70 years or older with newly diagnosed AML intensive chemotherapy was associated with longer overall survival compared with hypomethylating agents. The OS was better with HMAs during the first 1.5 months of follow-up, similar from 1.5 months to 4.0 months, and better with intensive chemotherapy from 4.0 months onward.