Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Primary Challenge of Diagnosis and Treatment

Secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML) is a complex diagnosis that includes AML caused by either an antecedent hematologic disease (AML-AHD) or from previous treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. This disease carries a poor prognosis and is historically chemorefractory; additionally, often patients are ineligible for standard chemotherapy because of advanced age and other comorbidities. The advances of molecular diagnostics and reclassification of World Health Organization criteria have aided in the categorization of this disease. This article describes the etiology and pathophysiology of sAML, and delves into past successful treatments as well as promising new treatments.