Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia

Myeloblastic leukaemia (A.M.L.) and its closely related cytological variants are less responsive to chemotherapy than acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (A.L.L.). A considerable problem still exists with remission induction; a high proportion of patients fail to achieve complete remission, especially among older adults with the disease. The contribution of maintenance chemotherapy after remission is less certain, and the place of prophylactic irradiation of the central nervous system, is debatable in the light of the poor duration of control of the systemic disease by current methods. No clear-cut pattern of overall management can therefore be defined as for A.L.L. The present achievement in control of A.M.L. is similar to that of A.L.L. seven to eight years ago. One hopeful development, however, is the possible contribution of immunotherapy to the managemenit of this disease.