Treatment strategies in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Summary Chemotherapy remains the backbone of treatment in AML. Of all adult patients 65% go into remission and have a chance of longer survival and of even being cured. Among the responders, 25% can be cured by intensive and long-term chemotherapy. Since the effect of chemotherapy appears not to be limited to a special period of time, its antileukemic and curative potential could be further exploited by multiple-step chemotherapy combining double induction, intensified consolidation and long-term maintenance. Improved antimicrobial treatment and the use of hematopoietic growth factors may help making multiple-step chemotherapy practicable, thereby increasing the cure rate in AML.The studies of the AML Cooperative Group (AMLCG) are supported by grants OIZP 0123 and 8701 of the Ministry of Research and Technology of the Federal Republic of GermanyDedicated to Professor Dr. Drs. h.c. Franz Büchner on his 95th birthday