Abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous myeloid malignancy. Currently, chemotherapy combined with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the primary treatment option; however, over-all prognosis remains poor. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is a humanized CD33 monoclonal antibody conjugated with calicheamicins. It is primarily used to treat CD33-positive AML. Although studies have found that GO can improve the prognosis of patients with CD33-positive AML, some patients with AML do not benefit from it. Recent studies have found that the effect of GO on AML is primarily associated with the expression of CD33 and its single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) gene and SNP, as well as specific molecular biology and cytogenetics. This paper reviews the research progress on the factors influencing efficacy of GO for treating AML.