Chemotherapy of the myeloid leukaemias.

These advances in chemotherapy and supportive care of the myeloid leukaemias offer substantially improved prospects for the future. At present the intensive treatment of acute and chronic myeloid leukaemia requires the resources of a specialist unit and as many patients as possible should now be referred for diagnostic classification and remission induction. Thereafter, courses of maintenance chemotherapy can be supervised jointly by the referring local physician and the specialist centre. This collaborative approach is to the mutual advantage of the patient, his local clinician, and the specialist centre.