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URL http://www.rockymountainbmt.com/news/Scientists-insisted-on-the-need-for-pediatric-acute-myeloid-leukemia-AML-subtype-specific-therapies-to-replace-the-outdated-quotone-size-fits-allquot-strategy-1086.html

Scientists insisted on the need for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtype-specific therapies to replace the outdated "one size fits all" strategy

06-20-2006

According to recent research published in the journal Leukemia, "Despite substantial progress in the management of childhood AML, only about 50% of patients are cured by intensive chemotherapy. The long-term results of clinical trials may reveal principles that can guide the development of future therapy."

"From 1980 to 2000, 251 patients <15 years of age with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled on 1 of the 5 consecutive St. Jude AML studies. The median age of the 128 boys and 123 girls was 6.2 years; 193 were white, 45 black, and 13 of other racial groups. With the exception of one protocol (AML-83), outcomes improved in general over the 2 decades," explained R.C. Ribeiro and colleagues, St. Jude Children's Hospital.

"The estimated 5-year event-free survival (+/-s.e.) was 30.8+/-5.6% for AML-80; 11.1+/-4.3% for AML-83; 35.9+/-7.4% for AML-87; 43.5+/-6.2% for AML-91; and 45.0+/-11.1% for AML-97. Resistant or relapsed AML caused the great majority of treatment failures. Increasing the intensity of chemotherapy (AML-87) did not improve outcome, partially because of toxicity, nor did prolonging postremission therapy by adding sequential myeloablative (AML-80) or nonmyeloablative (AML83) chemotherapy cycles."

The researchers concluded that "subtype-specific therapies are needed to replace the 'one size fits all' strategy of the past 2 decades."

Ribeiro and colleagues published their study in Leukemia (Successive clinical trials for childhood acute myeloid leukemia at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, from 1980 to 2000. Leukemia, 2005;19(12):2125-2129).

For additional information, contact R.C. Ribeiro, St. Jude Children's Hospital, Dept. Hematology Oncology, International Outreach Program, 332 N Lauderdale St., Memphis, TN 38105, USA.