Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia : Treatment Options

by National Cancer Institute

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Newly Diagnosed Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Treatment of newly diagnosed childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is combination chemotherapy. CNS sanctuary therapy is intrathecal chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy to the brain.

Treatment of newly diagnosed childhood acute leukemia with a granulocytic sarcoma (chloroma) may include chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.

Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission

Treatment of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during the remission phase (consolidation/intensification therapy) depends on the subtype of AML and may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Stem cell transplant.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without a monoclonal antibody.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Recurrent Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Treatment of recurrent childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy
• Combination chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.
• A clinical trial of a new anticancer drug.
• A clinical trial of a new monoclonal antibody.
• A clinical trial of stem cell transplant using different sources of stem cells.

Treatment of recurrent acute promyelocytic leukemia may include all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) or arsenic trioxide therapy

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia may include the following:

• All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) plus chemotherapy.
• Arsenic trioxide therapy.
• Combination chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and ATRA with or without arsenic trioxide.
• A clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody with ATRA.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Children with Down Syndrome and AML

Treatment of AML in children who have Down syndrome may include the following:

• Combination chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of lower-dose chemotherapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Childhood Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Treatment for childhood chronic myelogenous leukemia may include the following:

• Stem cell transplant.
• Drug therapy with Gleevec.
• A clinical trial of Gleevec therapy with interferon or chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of stem cell transplant using lower doses of chemotherapy.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Treatment of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia may include the following:

• Stem cell transplant.
• A clinical trial of new combinations of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant.

This summary section refers to specific treatments under study in clinical trials, but it may not mention every new treatment being studied.

Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder

Transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD) usually goes away on its own. For TMD that does not go away on its own, treatment may include the following:

• Transfusion therapy.
• Leukapheresis.
• Chemotherapy.

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes may include the following:

• Stem cell transplant.
• Combination chemotherapy.
• A clinical trial of a new anticancer drug.

Supportive care treatments are used to manage problems caused by the disease, such as infection, bleeding, and anemia.

If the myelodysplastic syndrome progresses to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), treatment will be the same as treatment for the newly diagnosed patient with AML.

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