OVERVIEW OF TREATMENT OPTIONS

The idea of treating cancer may immediately bring to mind words like chemotherapy and radiation, or maybe even immunotherapy, but what do these really mean? Are they used for the treatment of sAML?

Here’s a brief overview of the science behind treating AML, which may help to prepare you and your loved ones for conversations.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND TREATING sAML

Secondary AML (sAML) is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. Like a fingerprint, your experience with sAML is unique. This cancer is more common in older people who are more likely to have preexisting health conditions.1 It is considered difficult to treat and often requires specialized treatment.1,2

Learn More About Chemotherapy

Because sAML can quickly worsen, chemotherapy is often the treatment approach to stop or slow the growth of cancer.3,4 The goals of chemotherapy are to kill as many cancer cells as possible and shrink tumors that are causing pain and other problems.4

You may be treated with high-dose or high-intensity chemotherapy, which is a more aggressive strategy.5 If your body is not able to tolerate high-intensity chemotherapy, or if you have preexisting health conditions, your doctor may suggest low-dose or low-intensity chemotherapy, or drugs called hypomethylating agents (HMAs).1,6

HMAs stop your body from producing cancer cells by interrupting the cell production process in your deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).7 Given their balance between efficacy and moderate toxicity, these agents are a treatment option for older sAML patients who are not eligible for intensive therapies.1,8

TYPES OF HSCT

There are two main types of HSCT:12

  • ALLOGENEIC, meaning the patient requires a donor to supply stem cells.
  • AUTOLOGOUS, meaning the stem cells are harvested from the patient.
Stem Cell Transplant

If the sAML responds well to high-intensity chemotherapy, you may be a candidate for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).6,9

An HSCT helps restore a healthy supply of the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow that were destroyed by chemotherapy.10 This process most commonly requires stem cells from the bone marrow of a donor.9 Although a sibling match has been heavily relied on in the past, the donor does not have to be related to you. In fact, older patients typically find matches on the National Bone Marrow Registry rather than from relatives.9

An sAML patient’s eligibility for an HSCT depends on several factors including:11

  • General health and performance status
  • Disease state factors
  • Age
  • Comorbidities
  • Previous treatments

Since sAML requires a specialized approach and can spread quickly, it is important to discuss options with your doctor to identify a treatment option as soon as possible.1-3