Is it time to revisit standard post-remission therapy?

There are several strategies for improving post-remission therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). One is a risk-adapted strategy for younger adults in which patients with non-favorable characteristics based on cytogenetics and genetics are allocated to allogeneic stem cell transplantation and others receive intensive high-dose ara-C-based therapies. Additional genetic data and/or minimal residual disease level may prove useful in post-remission therapeutic choice. Future approaches, badly needed in older AML patients, may include the addition of new agents to currently used therapies or maintenance with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors.