Acute myeloid leukemia: therapeutic indications

The main issue for younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia is the prev ention of relapse. About 55% of patients relapse and the risk can partially be predicted by prognostic factors, particularly cytogenetics. A number of strategies can attempt to reduce the relapse risk, Intensification of indu ction therapy has been attempted but there is as yet no convincing evidence that survival is improved. Transplantation of either allogeneic or autolog ous stem cells does not seem to offer major survival advantage overall or w ithin risk groups. Improved understanding of resistance mechanisms and the identification of new risk factors may enable the development of a more tar geted approach to therapy. Curr Opin Hematol 2000, 7:333-338 (C) 2000 Lippi ncott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.