Treatment of AML is highly complex and is based on genetic changes, the patient's age, and other prognostic factors. In general, possible treatment regimens consist of:
- chemotherapeutic agents
- target therapies directed at the specific genetic change
- stem cell transplantation
Chemotherapeutic drugs aim to stop the cell cycle and thus halt the proliferation of leukemic cells or, in some cases, directly kill rapidly proliferating cells. Table 8 shows a few examples of such drugs. Keep in mind that chemotherapeutic drugs are used not only to treat AML but also other neoplastic conditions such as chronic leukemias and solid tumor cancers, and in so doing, these treatments can cause AML.
Table 8. Types of AML Treatments.| Group of Drugs | Mechanism of Action | Example |
| Alkylating Agents | Adding alkyl groups to cause breakage of DNA strands | Busulfan |
| Antimetabolites | Prevents DNA replication | Methotrexate |
| Mitotic Inhibitors | Plant alkaloids that damage cells and prevent replications | Vincristine |
| Corticosteroids | Induce apoptosis in leukemic cells
Can also induce differentiation | Dexamethasone |
