Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Concise Review

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder characterized by immature myeloid cell proliferation and bone marrow failure. Cytogenetics and mutation testing remain a critical prognostic tool for post induction treatment. Despite rapid advances in the field including new drug targets and increased understanding of the biology, AML treatment remains unchanged for the past three decades with the majority of patients eventually relapsing and dying of the disease. Allogenic transplant remains the best chance for cure for patients with intermediate or high risk disease. In this review, we discuss the landmark genetic studies that have improved outcome prediction and novel therapies.

Expression levels of the runt-related transcription factor�1 and�3 genes in the development of acute myeloid leukemia

“…AML accounts for ~80% of all acute leukemia cases in adults, and the incidence of this disease has been revealed to increase with age (2,3). At present, AML is curable in 35-40% of patients <60 years old; however, among patients >60 years of age, cases of full recovery are less common (5-15%) (1,4). Due to the fact that survival rates remain relatively low (overall 5-year survival is <5% in older patients), novel therapeutics and treatment strategies are required (3).…”

“…Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the white blood cells characterized by the clonal proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood (1). AML accounts for ~80% of all acute leukemia cases in adults, and the incidence of this disease has been revealed to increase with age (2,3).…”

Predictive value of pretransplantation molecular minimal residual disease assessment by WT1 gene expression in FLT3-positive acute myeloid leukemia

“…FLT3 mutations can involve the receptor juxtamembrane internal tandem duplication (ITD) domain or the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) and can cause, in most cases, an autophosphorylation with the constitutive activation of the receptor, resulting in a higher proliferation and an increased survival of leukemic cells [1,3,4]. FLT3 mutations are present in 20-30% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases in adults and are associated with a high risk of relapse and a poor prognosis [5][6][7][8].…”

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia with t(8;21) variant: what is the value on clinical outcome?

“…2 Despite the growing knowledge about the pathophysiology of the disease and the emergence of new therapeutic targets, genetics and molecular heterogeneity characteristic of clonal expansion still accounts for the possible relapse and subsequent death of most patients. 3 Specific cytogenetic alterations are currently used to stratify patients and establish the treatment protocol. According to World Health Organization (WHO), t(8;21) with RUNX1/RUNX1T1 gene fusion refers to a distinct type of AML that is associated with a favorable prognosis.…”