Present status and research progresses in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia patients aged over 80 years

Abstract

The number of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients aged over 80 years are increasing year by year. They have poor treatment effects and shorter survival period because of elderly age, more underlying diseases, poor tolerance to chemotherapy. At present, there are many treatments reported, including supportive therapy, standard-dose chemotherapy, reduced-dose chemotherapy, demethylation therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) and adoptive cellular immunotherapy, and various treatments have achieved some good effects in AML patients aged over 80 years. However, the survival of this group of patients is still poor. And there are lack of unified and effective therapeutic strategies for elderly patients with AML. This article reviewed the present status and research progresses on treatment of AML aged over 80 years. Key words: Leukemia, myeloid, acute; Aged; Life support care; Prognosis; Drug therapy