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Treatment of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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Treatment of Acute Leukemias

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Oncology ((CCO))

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Abstract

Acute leukemia is the most common pediatric malignancy. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) accounts for 20% of the cases of acute leukemia among children but causes a disproportionate amount of the leukemia-related mortality. Recent progress in the treatment of childhood AML has resulted in a remission induction rate approaching 80%, but long-term eventfree survival (EFS) remains between 35 and 50%. This discrepancy suggests that the major barrier to cure is insufficient postremission therapy. Randomized trials have demonstrated improved survival for patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation during remission, but at the expense of increased treatment-related morbidity and mortality. As a result, the optimal treatment of a patient in remission is not clear.

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Authors
  1. David M. Loeb
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  2. Robert J. Arceci
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Ching-Hon Pui MD

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Loeb, D.M., Arceci, R.J. (2003). Treatment of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In: Pui, CH. (eds) Treatment of Acute Leukemias. Current Clinical Oncology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-307-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-307-1_18

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-212-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-307-1

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