title: Acute myeloid leukemia in the elderly (age 70 yr or older): long-term survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little data exist regarding long-term survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
  
  
  METHODS
  In view of the fact that most deaths occurred during the first 3 yr, this study examined long-term survival in this patient population, defined as overall survival for at least 3 yr with the aim to determine the number of long-term survivors and to identify factors that might impact on longer survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The criterion for entry into this cohort was fulfilled by 57 patients among 302 seen over a 14-yr period (19%): 12 patients who never achieved complete remission (CR), 21 patients who relapsed after CR achievement, and 24 patients who achieved CR and did not relapse, including three patients who died while in CR and 21 patients still alive in first CR at the time of analysis. The pretreatment prognostic importance of cytogenetics was still apparent. However, some patients with secondary AML and/or unfavorable-risk markers belonged to long survivors. The cohort involved mainly patients treated by intensive chemotherapy, but also some patients receiving low-intensity therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved results should come from a better selection of patients to a more 'personalized' therapeutic approach combined with better supportive care assessment.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Maël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heiblig
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elhamri
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Jeune
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Charlotte
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Laude
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deloire
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wattel
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon-Sud Hospital, Pierre-Bénite, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012074:Remission Induction; D019233:Retreatment; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; elderly; long-term survivors; prognosis; treatment