New developments in post-induction therapy for acute myeloblastic leukaemia

80-90% of patients with acute myeloblastic leukaemia under the age of 60 can presently expect to achieve a complete remission with modern chemotherapy. A minimum of two courses of consolidation treatment beyond CR is advised to achieve a state of "minimal residual disease". In an attempt at cure patients should receive either an allogeneic BMT (less than 50 years of age) or autologous BMT (less than 60 years of age) and we currently recommend the additional use of IL2 after ABMT. Beyond 60 autologous BMT is presently not considered justified until the safety of this intensive/experimental approach is clarified. We do advocate intensive induction (needing less support than less intensive treatment) followed by consolidation therapy. Further studies into the applications of cytokines will clarify whether the large numbers of older patients could also safely benefit from these approaches.