Epigenetic landscape of acute myelogenous leukemia--moving toward personalized medicine

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic cancer that is characterized by accumulation of immature myeloid cells in the blood and bone marrow. The malignant cells in AML have reduced capacity to mature fully, and often exhibit chromosomal abnormalities, defects in cell signaling, and abnormal cell cycle control. Genetic and epigenetic changes are implicated in the onset and progression of AML. While progress has been made in using genetic and epigenetic changes as prognostic features of AML, these findings have not yet been effectively translated into novel treatment strategies. Disappointingly, rates of recurrence in AML remain high and overall survival is poor. Research strategies should focus on developing a comprehensive landscape of genetic and epigenetic changes in individual patients with AML to expand the clinicians' therapeutic armamentarium and to individualize and optimize treatment.