Rare Genetic and Uncommon Morphological Entities in Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Purpose of review: Despite differences in the various classification systems of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), rare entities can be identified according to clinical, biological or morphological characteristics. Uncommon AML defined on specific morphological criteria and/or genetic abnormalities were considered if occurring with a frequency of ≤ 5% in adult patients with AML.

Recent findings: Most of uncommon AML are characterized by a poor outcome with the standard treatment approaches. During the last decade, several therapeutic drugs with promising investigational approaches have been used in therapeutic regimens in both frontline and relapsed/refractory AML and represent a positive potential benefit for some rare entities displaying specific molecular lesions. Several rare subtypes can be identified in adult patients with AML. In this descriptive review, we assess the available information for these rare entities and summarized treatments that could be proposed especially according to their genetic characterization.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Genetic profile; Morphological criteria; Outcome; Rare leukemias; Treatment.