Alternative novel therapies for the treatment of elderly acute myeloid leukemia patients.
With a median age at diagnosis of approximately 65-70 years, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) represents a major therapeutic challenge in the elderly. Only 30-35% of elderly patients with AML are considered eligible for intensive chemotherapy and do actually receive it. However, the long-term benefit associated with intensive chemotherapy remains marginal, and the overall outcome for this population remains poor. The remaining 60-65% of elderly AML patients receives supportive care only. Nevertheless, several studies have indicated that patients who receive any therapy had a better outcome if compared with patients who receive supportive care only. Thus, the development of novel, less toxic, targeted agents is offering new options to older AML patients who are unfit for intensive approaches. In the present review, we will report on the results achieved using intensive chemotherapy and novel agents, and will describe some of the new strategies under development for treating older AML patients.
Haematology and Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Center, AORMN, Marche Nord Hospital, Via Lombroso, 61100 Pesaro, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Isidori
Adriano
A
Venditti
Luca
L
Maurillo
Francesco
F
Buccisano
Federica
F
Loscocco
Palma
P
Manduzio
Giovanni
G
Sparaventi
Sergio
S
Amadori
Giuseppe
G
Visani
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D011684:Purine Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011684:Purine Nucleosides; D003561:Cytarabine; D003630:Daunorubicin