Acute Leukemias Prognostic Factors and Treatment Strategies

The progress in the treatment of childhood and adult acute leukemias within the last 10-15 years was pioneered by the work of single institl:tions incorporating modern leukemia cell research and pharmacology into the design of chemotherapeutic regimens. These new approaches, however, had to be validated by representative prospective studies in order to clearly demonstrate the efficacy of special concepts and to identify prognostic determinants and differences between patient subgroups. It was therefore the aim of the First International Symposium "Acute Leukemias: Prognostic Factors and Treatment Strategies" held in Munster in 1986 to provide a broad overview over the present status of chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation in childhood and adult leukemias with special emphasis on the results of multicenter trials recruiting large numbers of patients in Europe and oversea countries. In addition, new aspects of cytogenetics, leukemia cell biology and modern diagnostic techniques as well as improvements in supportive treatment were covered. In an attempt to summarize the major results presented during this meeting, which are given in detail in the present book, the following conclusions may be drawn: In adults with acute myeloid leukemia complete remissions are achieved in 60 to 70% of all patients and translate into long term remissions in 15 to 25% of responders. Monthly maintenance chemotherapy was found to prolong remission duration significantly. In addition, late intensification, early consolidation or, as a new approach.