title: The artful management of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Acute myeloid leukemia in older patients has historically had a dismal 10-15% long-term survival rate. Although patient frailty plays a role in this disappointing outcome, the primary driver of poor results remains the resistance of disease to current therapies. The optimal management of this difficult-to-treat disease should include a careful consideration of disease, patient and treatment factors. Disease factors include cytogenetic and molecular features and the history of an antecedent hematological disorder. Patient factors include age, performance status, comorbid conditions and individual patient preference. We favor intensive induction in most fit older patients but alternatives such as hypomethylating agents and low-dose cytarabine may be considered in patients with other comorbidities. Enrollment of patients into well designed clinical trials addressing important questions remains of utmost importance in order to advance the understanding and treatment of this disease although the best means of drug development remains a challenging dilemma.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Oncology , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI 48201 , USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Oncology , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center and Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , MI 48201 , USA.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schiffer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D059039:Standard of Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: 7+3; Acute myeloid leukemia; azacitidine; clinical trials; decitabine; hypomethylating agents; novel agents; older