Jörg Ritter

Ursula Creutzig

Günther Schellong

The results of treatment for childhood acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) have improved considerably during the last ten years. This progress was demonstrated by the two consecutive multicenter studies, AML-BFM-78 and -83, in which almost identical extended multi drug regimes of che motherapy were administered for eight weeks and followed up by two years maintenance. The main difference in the second study was the addition of an eight-day intensive in duction course. Due to this new element, the relapse rate was reduced significantly. Another result of the BFM-83 study was the definition of two risk groups on the basis of standardized treatment, which has lead to a risk-adapted treatment strategy in the third ongoing trial, AML-BFM- 87. This improvement was only possible thanks to the coop eration of pediatricians, physicians, radiotherapists, statisti cians, and especially the staff at the hospitals and reference laboratories. Thus, we would like to thank everyone who has been involved in these studies and hope that they will be further encouraged to improve treatment strategies for AML in children. The coordination, enforcement, and analyses of the stud ies would not have been possible without the financial sup port of the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology of the FRG. We are grateful for the generous contributions supporting this book from Lederle and Farmitalia. Munster, April 1990 Ursula Creutzig Jorg Ritter Gunther Schellong Contents 1 Introduction . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1 .

Implications of Therapy Studies for Future Risk-Adapted Treatment Strategies

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in Childhood

Thomas Büchner

Wolfgang Hiddemann

Bernhard Wörmann

William Plunkett

The 7th volume of the book series Acute Leukemias provides new updates on the biology of acute leukemias and especially the underlying genetic and molecular events. High quality contributions are provided by leading scientists and clinicians making the book an excellent overview over most recent achievements which translate into new treatment strategies and hence an improved outlook for patients suffering from acute leukemias.

Experimental Approaches and Novel Therapies

Acute Leukemias VII

Günter Schellong

For 10 years the book series Acute Leukemias has been providing updates on the rapid progress being made internationally concerning this group of diseases. The fifth volume mainly addressed experimental approaches, but the present issue presents both therapeutic and prognostic aspects of the most recent results from major multicenter clinical trials. Additional chapters report new trends in leukemia cell biology,the monitoring of minimal residual disease, and secondary leukemias, as well as new antileukemic drugs, antimicrobial strategies, and the use of cytokines. The combined efforts against acute leukemias described in this book explain the recent improvements in the outcome of patients suffering from acute leukemias.

Prognostic Factors and Treatment Strategies

Acute Leukemias VI

Ursula Creutzig

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