Preface

Acute leukemia, which can be either myeloid or lymphocytic, is currently the thirteenth cause of morbidity and the tenth cause of mortality among cancers worldwide (**Figure 1**). Despite differences in epidemiology among the various subtypes (e.g., myeloid leukemia is more common in older adults, whereas lymphocytic leukemia is more common in children), the overall incidence of leukemia is continuously, though slowly, increasing.

In the last two decades, tremendous efforts have been made to understand the pathophysiology and especially the molecular pathogenesis of acute leukemias. Massive parallel sequencing has allowed for the identification of multiple mutations as well as hypotheses about a hierarchy in the sequence of genetic events. This has led to a more refined classification, progressively moving from a morphologybased classification (FAB classification, 1974) to a largely molecular based one (WHO classification, 2017).

This book presents a brief overview of the history of leukemia diagnosis and treatment. It also examines the biology and diagnosis of acute leukemia through a series of chapters dealing with molecular events as well as stem cell biology. As such, the book largely focuses on conventional therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) based on age subgroups. Highlighted are new low-toxicity approaches for adolescents.

Despite signs of progress in chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation remains a major tool to achieve cure in acute leukemia patients. Thus, the book presents different treatment strategies as well as diagnostic methods for monitoring minimal residual disease after transplant.

Finally, the book summarizes targeted therapies, including those already approved for first- and second-line treatments as well as the molecular mechanisms determining drug sensitivity or resistance.

**Figure 1.** *Cancer incidence and mortality statistics worldwide and by region.*

**II**

**Section 3**

**Section 4**

Conventional Treatment of Acute Leukemias **123**

**Chapter 8 125**

**Chapter 9 149**

**Chapter 10 165**

Stem Cell Transplantation **183**

**Chapter 11 185**

**Chapter 12 209**

**Chapter 13 221**

Targeted Therapies **239**

**Chapter 14 241**

**Chapter 15 267**

**Chapter 16 287**

Mechanisms of Resistence of New Target Drugs in Acute Myeloid Leukemia *by Debora Capelli, Francesco Saraceni, Diego Menotti, Alessandro Fiorentini* 

Targeting of Post-Transcriptional Regulation as Treatment Strategy

*by Paulina Podszywalow-Bartnicka, Magdalena Wolczyk* 

Consolidation: Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Leukemia

Molecular Monitoring in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Undergoing Matched Unrelated Donor: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adolescents and Young Adults *by Martha Alvarado-Ibarra, José Antonio De la Peña Celaya,* 

What Is the Best Choice and Dose of Anthracycline for Induction

*María Eugenia Espitia Ríos and Juan Manuel Pérez Zúñiga*

Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Myeloid Laeukemia *by Salvatore Leotta, Annalisa Condorelli, Giovanni Schininà, Roberta Sciortino, Alessandra Cupri and Giuseppe Milone*

*by Fatma Keklik Karadağ, Fahri Şahin and Güray Saydam*

Chemotherapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia? *by Sravanti Rangaraju and Omer Jamy*

Treatment of AML in Older Patients *by Jacobien Hilberink and Gerwin Huls*

*by Irina Panovska-Stavridis*

*by Vasko Graklanov*

in Acute Leukemia

*and Attilio Olivieri*

*and Katarzyna Piwocka*

Target Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

**Section 5**

*Luara Luz Arana-Luna, Eleazar Hernández-Ruiz, José Luis Alvarez Vera,* 

This book is intended for all health professionals, particularly those involved in the diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases, as well as medical students and fellows.

I am grateful to IntechOpen for the opportunity to edit this volume. I would like to thank Ms. Dajana Pemac, Ms. Ana Simic, and Ms. Sara Gojevic-Zrnic for their help and support, as well as all the contributors who dedicated their time and effort.
