Hematologic Malignancies Program

Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Phases

Treatment for leukemia is given in two phases. The first is called induction therapy. The purpose of induction therapy is to kill as many of the leukemia cells as possible and make patients go into remission.

Once in remission with no signs of leukemia, patients enter a second phase of treatment called continuation therapy, which tries to kill any remaining leukemia cells. A patient may receive chemotherapy for up to several years to stay in remission.

There is no staging for adult acute myeloid leukemia. The choice of treatment depends on whether a patient has already been treated.

Untreated

Untreated adult acute myeloid leukemia means that no treatment has been given except to treat symptoms. There are too many white blood cells in the blood and bone marrow, and there may be other signs and symptoms of leukemia. Rarely, tumor cells can appear as a solid tumor called an isolated granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma. Treatment will probably be systemic chemotherapy. If leukemia cells are found in the brain, chemotherapy will be injected directly into the spinal cord (intrathecal). Clinical trials are testing new drugs.

In Remission

Remission means that treatment has been given and that the number of white blood cells and other blood cells in the blood and bone marrow is normal. There are no signs or symptoms of leukemia. Treatment will most likely be systemic chemotherapy drugs and new ways of giving drugs, or a clinical trial evaluating bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation.

Recurrent/Refractory

Recurrent disease means that the leukemia has come back after going into remission. Refractory disease means that the leukemia has failed to go into remission following treatment. Radiation therapy may be given to reduce symptoms. Patients may also choose to take part in clinical trials of new chemotherapy drugs or bone marrow transplantation. If the leukemia cells have spread to the brain, radiation therapy to the brain or intrathecal chemotherapy will be given.

This page was last updated on: February 29, 2008.