AML in 2017: Advances in clinical practice

Numerous advances have been made in the biology and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2017. These include the integration of the assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) into clinical practice, the approval and near approval of new agents, improvement in therapy for older patients, and the development of a number of promising new agents, including IDH inhibitors, a Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor, and a histone deacetylase inhibitor. In addition, the concept of chemotherapy manipulation is still valid and can increase efficacy in some AML populations, and transplant patterns have shifted, enabling more patients to receive a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. These and other advances are critical to improve the outcome for patients with AML.