title: Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Past, Present, and Prospects for the Future.
abstract: Dose intensification of chemotherapy and the combination of a third cytotoxic agent with standard cytarabine and anthracycline-based induction chemotherapy have led to improved outcomes in select groups of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, despite some progress in this area, it appears that we might be reaching the limit of cytotoxic chemotherapy for the treatment of AML, especially in older patients and in those with poor-risk features whose disease tends to be relatively chemoresistant. Recent advances in the molecular classification of AML have identified pathogenic pathways that can be exploited with targeted agents and rational drug combinations. Novel nontransplant immunotherapies also show promise in the treatment of AML, especially when a targetable molecular aberration cannot be identified. Sensitive methods for detecting minimal residual disease in AML have not only improved prognostication of these patients but also provide the framework for risk-adapted strategies in this heterogeneous disease.
authors: Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Short
authors: Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. Electronic address: fravandi@mdanderson.org.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Ravandi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Chemotherapy; Dose intensification; Immunotherapy; Minimal residual disease; Targeted therapy