Treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Acute leukemia is no longer an uncommon disease among the middle-aged and elderly. In recent years, treatment programs available for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia have improved dramatically. While remission rates in patients over age 50 are not as high as in younger age groups, combination chemotherapy is effective in a significant number of older patients, and complete remissions can be obtained in 20 to 50%. Recent years have also witnessed much progress in the ability to provide essential supportive therapy during periods of marrow hypoplasia. Because acute leukemia is uniformly fatal if untreated, aggressive therapy should be made available to all these patients, regardless of age.