La leucemia mieloide acuta: un caso pediatrico

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous group of leukemias that arise in precursors of myeloid, erytroid, megakaryocytic and monocytic cell lineages. These leukemias result from clonal transformation of hematopoietic precursor through the acquisition of chromosomal rearrangements and multiple gene mutations. New molecular technologies have allowed a better understanding of these molecular events, improved classification of AML according to risk, and the development of molecularly targeted therapies. As a result of higly collaborative clinical research by pediatric cooperative cancer group worldwide, disease-free survival (DFS) has improved significantly during the past three decades. Stem cell transplantation, in combination with conventional chemioterapy drugs, is the most successful curative treatment for AML.