Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogenous group of disorders that arise from the neoplastic transformation of a hematopoietic stem cell. Intensive investigations during the last two decades have provided insights into the pathogenesis of the disease and have revealed marked heterogeneity with respect to cytogenetics and molecular genetics of the malignant cells. The new World Health Organization (WHO) classification takes into account contemporary information about cytogenetic and molecular genetics and whether the disease arises from an antecedent hematological disorder or evolves as a result of prior chemotherapy exposure. Despite current strategies, including intensive induction and consolidation chemotherapy, and improvements in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, many younger adults and almost all older adults with AML die of their disease. Recently, advances in immunophenotyping, karyotypic analysis, and molecular biology have led to important developments in tailored and targeted therapy. It is likely that, with further insights into the mechanisms of cell cycle control, apoptosis, differentiation, and cellular antigen expression, new targeted therapeutic strategies will be developed and perhaps even lead to the eradication of the leukemia stem cell