Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Review

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy of the stem cell precursors of the myeloid lineage (red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells other than B and T cells). Like other malignancies, it is due to genetic variations that lead to neoplastic changes and clonal proliferation. AML remains a rare malignancy, accounting for only 1.2% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States per year, but it accounts for close to one third of all leukemias diagnosed.* For much of the 20th and early 21st century treatment paradigms were unchanged with survival curves remaining stagnant for many decades. Recent changes in our understanding of the genetic variations in the disease have led to some promising new therapies with hopes for improved outcomes in the future. Below we review the definitions, diagnosis and classification of AML and how this affects the evolving treatment paradigm of AML.

Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia; bone marrow; stem cell transplantation.