Maintenance therapy in acute myeloid leukemia revisited: will new agents rekindle an old interest?
OBJECTIVE
The potential and limitations of the established cytotoxic chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia have been assessed by recent large-scale clinical trials. A further progress would require the contribution of alternative approaches.


RESULTS
Early results from more specific, less toxic, targeted agents are now available. Major options under investigation are demethylating drugs and inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, farnesylation and angiogenesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Some of the novel agents, such as demethylating drugs, appear predestined for prolonged maintenance treatment due to their delayed antileukemic mechanism.
Krug
Utz
U
Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Lübbert
Michael
M
Büchner
Thomas
T
D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077209:Decitabine; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D054876:Prenylation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077157:Sorafenib; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077209:Decitabine; D000077157:Sorafenib; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019311:Staurosporine; C059539:midostaurin; D001374:Azacitidine