Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
We are pleased to organize this supplement on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) composed of selected recently published articles from Leukemia.
AML is a paradox. From a biological perspective it is a relatively simple neoplasm, a median of 5 mutations per case versus a median of 75 to 100 in patients with pancreas and lung cancers. Cure rates in AML have improved steadily, albeit slowly, over recent decades. In contrast, therapy (typically with cytarabine and an anthracycline) has not changed substantially in more than 40 years. Although the molecular biology of AML is relatively well understood and mutations nicely defined, these data have not led to meaningful therapy advances in most persons with AML.
The collection begins with an editorial which focuses on the important question of what is the best endpoint for trials of new therapies of AML, followed by two reviews – one focusing on the value of possible measurable residual disease (MRD)–testing in conventional and transplant settings; and one on treating the older patient, a generation in which AML is predominant. Three research articles complete the collection covering the mutation landscape of AML, the impact of increasingly intensive therapies, and a possible new therapy approach: anti–CD33 CAR–T cells.
We hope you enjoy the breadth and depth of articles in this collection that has been produced with support of a grant from Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a member of the Otsuka group). This collection represents only a few of the important AML studies published in Leukemia - please see the www.nature.com/leu for many more.
As always, Springer Nature retains sole responsibility for all editorial content.
Robert Peter Gale MD, PhD, DSc(hc), FACP and Andreas Hochhaus MD
Editors-in-Chief, Leukemia
