title: Acute myeloid leukemia in the elderly.
abstract: The optimal management of acute myeloid leukemia in patients over 60 years-of-age remains a controversial issue. The complete remission rates after conventional induction chemotherapy progressively decreases after the age of 60. This is explained by host-related factors and by differences in the biology of leukemia. The incidence of adverse prognostic factors (trilineage myelodysplasia, unfavorable karyotype, mdrl-positive phenotype) is higher in elderly patients. Three strategies are currently offered to older adults with acute myeloid leukemia: intensive chemotherapy, palliative treatment and attenuated dose chemotherapy. Currently, complete remission rates achieved with conventional chemotherapy range from 40-65% according to inclusion criteria. In the past few years, two approaches have been tested in order to improve the results of induction chemotherapy: modifications of chemotherapy regimens with new intercalating agents (idarubicin, mitoxantrone) and the use of myeloid growth factors. Myeloid growth factors have been administered with two objectives: to reduce the duration of neutropenia and the toxic death rate when given after induction chemotherapy, and to prime leukemic blasts when given during chemotherapy. The results of published placebo-controlled studies are discussed. The issues of palliative treatment and of attenuated dose chemotherapy are also addressed in the review, with special emphasis on the role of oral idarubicin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Hotel Dieu, NANTES, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
mesh_terms: D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic