Information for Patients and Physicians
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) results in uncontrolled growth and accumulation of malignant cells, or "blasts", which fail to function normally and block the production of normal blood cells, leading to a deficiency of red cells (anemia), platelets (thrombocytopenia) and normal white cells (neutropenia) in the blood. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 13,000 new cases of AML will be diagnosed in the United States during 2009.
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is a collection of disorders in which bone marrow function is disrupted, commonly resulting in decreased numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets. In more advanced cases of MDS, malignant blast cells dominate the marrow and further inhibit normal marrow function, often giving rise to AML. The American Cancer Society estimates that 10,000 to 15,000 new cases of MDS are diagnosed annually in the United States.
For more detailed information about the clinical trials summarized below, click on the link to the trial listing at www.clinicaltrials.gov.