Current Research

AML research is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this current time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor.

Active research directed at increasing the understanding of the biology of AML is ongoing to improve its treatment, particularly for older patients. These projects include the following:

• Research protocols evaluating the use of existing drugs given in different doses and schedules
  
  
• The evaluation of inhibitors of the products of specific mutations found in AML cells. For example, about 30% of patients with AML have mutations in a gene producing a protein called FLT3, which can increase the growth of AML cells. Compounds that inhibit FLT3 are being tested in clinical trials.
  
  
• The evaluation of inhibitors of proteins found in AML cells that cause resistance to chemotherapy (keeps the chemotherapy from working)
  
  
• The use of antibodies directed against the AML cells
  
  
• The study of a variety of techniques to make stem cell transplantation safer, easier, and more effective
  
  
• The evaluation of drugs called hypomethylating therapy, such as azacitidine (Vidaza) and decitabine (Dacogen), as well as the use of new drugs, including clofarabine (Clolar), laromustine (Cloretazine, Onrigin), gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg), sorafenib (Nexavar), and tipifarnib (Zarnestra), amongst others.

Most cancer centers are actively involved in clinical trials aimed at increasing the rate of cure from AML. The National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program sponsors many of these studies. Please talk with your doctor about these ongoing clinical trials.