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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the chapter, the reader will be able to:
Identify the risk factors associated with a poor outcome for the acute leukemias.
Explain the importance of minimal residual disease (MRD) and its implication on early bone marrow relapse.
Explain the role of induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
Define the role of central nervous system preventive therapy for the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia.
Identify new treatment options available based on specific biologic targets for the treatment of adult acute leukemias.
Describe the clinical presentation and diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Identify underlying considerations that would determine the most appropriate chemotherapeutic regimens for both acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myelogenous leukemia.
Recognize the treatment complications associated with the therapy for acute leukemias.
Describe the late effects associated with the treatment of long-term survivors of acute leukemias.
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The acute leukemias are hematologic malignancies of bone marrow precursors characterized by excessive production of immature hematopoietic cells. This proliferation of “blast” cells eventually replaces normal bone marrow and leads to the failure of normal hematopoiesis and the appearance in peripheral blood as well as infiltration of other organs. These blast cells proliferate in the marrow and inhibit normal cellular elements, resulting in anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Leukemia also may infiltrate other organs, including the liver, spleen, bone, skin, lymph nodes, testis, and central nervous system (CNS). Virtually anywhere there is blood flow, the potential for extramedullary (outside the bone marrow) leukemia exists.
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Acute leukemias are classified according to their cell of origin. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) arises from the lymphoid precursors. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) arises from the myeloid or megakaryocytic precursors. As a result of clinical trials defining various prognostic (risk) factors that helped guide treatment modifications, the outcomes of acute leukemias, especially pediatric ALL, have improved dramatically over the past several decades.1 Risk-based treatment strategies that consider multiple phenotypic and biological risk factors and attempt to match the aggressiveness of therapy with the presumed risk of relapse and death are now the standard of care. Despite the overall success in treating patients with acute leukemias, further advances are needed in the treatment of relapsed ALL.1
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EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ETIOLOGY
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Leukemia is a relatively uncommon disease. The current overall age-adjusted annual incidence of acute leukemia in the United States has remained relatively stable at 13.1 per 100,000 in children and 1–2 per 100,000 in adults. In 2021, it is estimated there will be 61,090 new cases of leukemia, or 3.2% of all new cancer cases.2
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In the pediatric population, leukemia is a common cancer, accounting for almost one-third of all childhood malignancies. ALL accounts for 75% to 80% of all cases of childhood leukemia, whereas AML accounts for no more than 20%. ...