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Age cohort subgroups in adult acute myeloid leukaemia studies - the population perspective

Leukemia volume 15, pages 188–189 (2001)Cite this article

Survival in acute leukaemia is age-dependent and unintentional age biases in trials/studies may be a major cause of inconsistency when comparing outcome between studies. Assessing clinical outcome using a population-based data set collected over a prolonged time period linked to cytogenetics has revealed the full extent of the heterogeneity based on age, suggesting a rethink of study design in leukaemia trials is required.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), in the adult age group (>15 years), is a heterogeneous disease group with differing chromosomal abnormalities associated with the different biological subtypes of the disease, the incidence of subtypes varying over different age groups. Response to therapy varies between age groups, in part due to the different nature of the disease. Few studies in leukaemia have been conducted on unselected cohorts of patients and trials continue to be performed over wide age bands on highly selected but mixed biological patients populations.1 In particular, there is under-representation of older patients in trials and studies and even where they are included substantial selection takes place.2

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  1. University Department of Haematology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK

    SJ Proctor & PRA Taylor

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  1. SJ Proctor
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  2. PRA Taylor
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Proctor, S., Taylor, P. Age cohort subgroups in adult acute myeloid leukaemia studies - the population perspective. Leukemia 15, 188–189 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2401972

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