Introduction: Age has historically been considered the main criterion to determine eligibility for intensive chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but age alone can no longer be considered an absolute indicator in determining which patients should be defined as unfit. Assessment of fitness for a given treatment today serves an important role in tailoring therapeutic options.
Areas covered: This review examines the main options used in real life to define eligibility for intensive and nonintensive chemotherapy in patients with AML, with a main focus on the Italian SIE/SIES/GITMO Consensus Criteria. Other published real-life experiences are also reviewed, analyzing the correlation between these criteria and short-term mortality, and thus expected outcomes.
Expert opinion: Assessment of fitness is mandatory at diagnosis to tailor treatment to the greatest degree possible, evaluating the patient's individual profile. This is especially relevant when considering the availability of newer, less toxic therapeutic regimens, which have shown promising results in patients with AML who are older or considered unfit for intensive treatment. Fitness assessment is now a fundamental part of AML management and a critical step that can potentially influence outcomes and not just predict them.
Keywords: Acute myeloid leukemia; Italy; comorbidities; elderly; fitness; geriatric scores; intensive chemotherapy; performance status.
In patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), age has generally been considered as the main factor to determine if intensive chemotherapy can be carried out (fitness). However, this has been gradually changing in recent years. In addition to age, comorbidities and overall performance status are also important in determining if the patient should undergo intensive chemotherapy and have an important role in tailoring therapeutic options. Consensus criteria to define eligibility for intensive and nonintensive chemotherapy in patients with AML have been proposed, which have been shown to correlate well with expected outcomes. Today, given the evolution of the treatment armamentarium, assessment of a patient’s ‘fitness’ is compulsory to select the most appropriate treatment for each patient.