Adult AML Treatment: An Introduction
Different types of treatment are available for patients with
adult acute myeloid leukemia (
AML). Some treatments are standard (the currently used treatment), and some treatments are being tested in clinical trials. Acute myeloid
leukemia is also known as acute myelogenous leukemia.
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Stem cell transplantation
- Other drug therapies.
There are also two phases of adult AML treatment: remission induction therapy and maintenance therapy. Choosing the most appropriate adult AML treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
Phases of Adult AML Treatment
Adult AML treatment usually has two phases: remission induction therapy and maintenance therapy.
Remission induction therapy is the first phase of adult AML treatment. The purpose of remission induction therapy is to kill the
leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow, which will put the leukemia into remission.
Maintenance therapy is the second phase of adult AML treatment and it begins after the leukemia is in remission. The purpose of maintenance therapy is to kill any remaining leukemia cells that may not be active but that could begin to regrow and cause a relapse. This phase is also called remission continuation therapy.
