Strategies to Improve Treatment - Relapsed or Resistant Leukemia

This content has been reviewed and approved by

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD
Chairman & Professor, Leukemia Department
MD Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas
 

Researchers are currently investigating new treatments to improve therapy for relapsed or resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Participation in trials of these treatments may lead to improved therapies. If you wish to participate in a clinical trial, please talk to your doctor about the potential benefits and side effects of the treatment.

  • Monoclonal antibodies - These include Mylotarg® (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) and others.
  • Stem cell transplant - High-dose chemotherapy and autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation are effective treatment options for many patients.
  • New chemotherapy drugs and regimens - New chemotherapy drugs are being developed and tested in patients with recurrent AML in preliminary trials. These include single agent or combination regimens of drugs, such as decitabine, clofarabine, cloretazine, troxacitabine, sapacitabine, and many others.
  • New chemotherapy regimens - Development of new multidrug chemotherapy treatment regimens is under way. These regimens incorporate new or additional anticancer therapies for use as treatment of leukemia. New chemotherapy regimens may be able to prepare patients for an allogeneic bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplant. They may also provide improved treatment for patients unable to receive a stem cell transplant.
  • Arsenic - Arsenic is a potential anticancer compound. It has recently had some success in treating patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia who had failed initial therapy. It can cure up to 40 percent to 70 percent of patients if used alone or in combinations.
This content was last modified on August 11, 2007 .
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