Chemotherapy of acute leukemia in adults

Background: General therapeutic options for adult patients with acute leukemia are reviewed and specific new treatment strategies are described. Objective: Treatment results and controversial issues on current and future antileukemic strategies are discussed. Methods: Data in this review came from the published literature. Results/conclusion: In the past years, striking new developments have been noticeable in the treatment of adult acute leukemia. However, the overall outcome of adult acute leukemia remains poor, particularly in older patients. Intensive chemotherapy remains the standard for leukemia treatment but several approaches using new cytotoxic agents seem promising. Therapeutic targeting of specific biologic abnormalities present in the leukemia cell population might, in a near future, improve outcome of adult leukemia patients.