Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Alfa Cytology offers comprehensive preclinical services for drug development related to leukemia. Our solutions help clients save time and resources, making the drug development process more efficient.

Introduction to AML

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that affects blood and bone marrow. It is characterized by the rapid increase of immature “blast” cells, which leads to ineffective red blood cell production and bone marrow failure. Despite advances in therapy, the outlook for certain patients remains poor.

Epidemiology of AML

In the United States, AML occurs at a rate of about 3 to 5 cases per 100,000 people. The incidence increases with age, from about 1.3 cases per 100,000 people under 65 to 12.2 cases per 100,000 people 65 and older. Without proper treatment, AML can quickly lead to serious complications like infections, bleeding, and organ failure.

Fig. 1. Incidence of patients with acute myeloid leukemia in the United States by age at diagnosis. (Shallis, R.M. et al., 2019)

Therapy Development for AML

Many medications and treatment options exist for AML. Chemotherapy drugs like cytarabine are commonly used, often in combination with anthracyclines. These drugs work by inhibiting DNA replication, thereby damaging leukemia cells.

Therapy Development for Acute Myeloid Leukemia

As shown in Figure 2, there are multiple medications as well as therapy options for AML. Cytarabine is a chemotherapy drug that is often used as a backbone of AML therapy. Anthracyclines are potent chemotherapy drugs that are commonly used in combination with cytarabine. They work by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for DNA replication and causing damage to leukemia cells.

Fig. 2. Drugs used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. (DiNardo, C.D.; Wei, A.H., 2020)

Drugs in the Pipeline

Drug resistance reduces monotherapy effectiveness. Developing innovative therapies targeting AML’s complexity is urgent. New drugs are in development to address different aspects of leukemia.

The acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy is focused on advancing innovative therapies for this aggressive hematologic cancer. Using cutting-edge technologies such as targeted therapy, immunotherapy and gene analysis to simplify the development process and improve prognosis.

If you are interested in the pathogenesis of AML or therapy development, Alfa Cytology offers a full range of supportive research services to support your preclinical research. Contact us to learn more about our services.