title: New treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogeneous disease. Yet current therapy has changed little over the decades and includes the nucleoside analog cytarabine in combination with an anthracycline as primary therapy. With this approach, durable cures occur in the minority of patients. With the recent improved scientific understanding of the underlying genetic and epigenetic aberrations in AML, there is now the potential of individualized and targeted therapeutic approaches for the curative treatment of AML.
  
  
  METHODS
  The focus of this article is to review the therapeutic potential of many of the novel agents currently under investigation in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The results of pivotal Phase III studies, as well as ongoing Phase II and III studies and selected Phase I studies with impact on the field of AML therapy will be discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advances in the scientific knowledge of the various genetic and epigenetic alterations in AML, in conjunction with more effective, rationally designed and/or novel targeted therapeutics, offers a real hope and expectation of improved AML outcomes in the future.
authors.affiliation: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Leukemia , 1515 Holcombe Blvd Unit 0428 Houston, TX , USA +1 713 794 1141 ; +1 713 745 4612 ; cdinardo@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Courtney D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: DiNardo
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cortes
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: acute myelogenous leukemia; future directions; targeted therapy; treatment review