Treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia in older adults.

The overall strategy for the treatment of older adults is summarized in Table 8. Soon after the birth of effective chemotherapy for acute leukemia, the perspective for all patients was summarized as follows: 'With all humility it may be claimed that there are, at least, grounds for hope and encouragement in this recently acquired ability occasionally to halt for a while the formerly unrelenting malignant process known as acute leukemia'. In reviewing the overall survival data for older adults one may feel that we are at a similar juncture in assessing the outcome for this particular population. It is hoped that some of the potential advances may provide greater hope and improved results over the next decade.