Emília Kaiserová, Alexandra Kolenová
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comprises about 15-20 % of childhood leukemia and accounts for more than 30 % of deaths from leukemia. The prognosis improved significantly over past decades. Nowadays, 50-65% of patients experience long-term survival, but less than 50 % of patients in high-risk group. The most important prognostic factors are early treatment response and favourable [t(15;17), t(8;21), inv(16)] or unfavourable (monosomy 5 or 7, del5q) cytogenetic findings or gene mutations. Improvements may come from more effective antileukemic treatment based on international collaboration, better risk-group classification, supportive treatment and experience of pediatric cancer centers in intensive treatment. The foundation stones of successful AML treatment include combination chemotherapy, rational indication of bone marrow transplantation and in future therapeutic principles based on better knowledge of AML biology.