Chemotherapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission.
Although the majority of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieve a complete remission with induction chemotherapy, most will ultimately relapse. Therefore, the optimal postremission therapy for AML remains to be defined, and further improvements in treatment strategies are required. Clinical trials have demonstrated that early intensive consolidation therapy with high-dose cytarabine can produce prolonged responses in up to 40% of patients in remission after standard induction therapy. Equally, however, it has been shown that high-dose cytarabine used in induction therapy can deliver equivalent long-term results. Autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first remission are also valid alternatives, but the value of low-dose maintenance treatment seems confined to acute promyelocytic leukemia. Further improvement in the treatment of AML is likely to depend on the development of new strategies, such as molecularly targeted or immune therapies.
Bradstock
Kenneth
K
Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. bradstok@icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D012074:Remission Induction
D003561:Cytarabine