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Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment of Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology Review Paper

  • Acute Myeloid Leukemias (H Erba, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The treatment landscape for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is evolving. Many treatments have comparable efficacy making their impact on quality of life (QoL) an important differentiating factor. In this review, we discuss QoL in older adults with AML, focusing on therapeutic and observational trials that have incorporated QoL assessments.

Recent Findings

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional concept incorporating physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning domains. HRQoL components overlap with components of geriatric assessment, a multidisciplinary diagnostic process that identifies underlying vulnerabilities of older adults and guides subsequent management strategies. HRQoL questionnaires may be general, cancer-specific, leukemia-specific, or symptom-focused. Therapeutic and observational cohort studies suggest HRQoL improves, or at least remains stable, during intensive and lower-intensity therapies. Nonetheless, HRQoL is not routinely incorporated in AML therapeutic trials.

Summary

HRQoL assessments can inform both decision-making and management for older adults with AML.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Susan Rosenthal, MD for her editorial assistance. Dr. Loh is supported by the National Cancer Institute (K99CA237744) and Wilmot Research Fellowship Award.

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Author notes

  1. Kah Poh Loh and Maya Abdallah contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 704, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    Kah Poh Loh

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA

    Maya Abdallah

  3. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Anita J. Kumar

  4. Institute for Clinical Research & Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Anita J. Kumar

  5. Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Nina R Neuendorff

  6. Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Saurabh Dahiya

  7. Section on Hematology and Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, USA

    Heidi D. Klepin

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  1. Kah Poh Loh
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Correspondence to Kah Poh Loh.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Neuendorff declares travel support from Jazz Pharmaceuticals and advisory work for Janssen outside of the submitted work. Dr. Loh services as a consultant to Pfizer and Seattle Genetics. Dr. Kumar, Dr. Klepin, and Dr. Abdallah declare no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Acute Myeloid Leukemias

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Loh, K.P., Abdallah, M., Kumar, A.J. et al. Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment of Older Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology Review Paper. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 14, 523–535 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-019-00552-6

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