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Epigenetics research prompts hope for improved treatment of acute myeloid leukemia

Friday, December 12, 2014

Photo of Dr. Gail RobozGail J. Roboz, M.D. SAN FRANCISCO – Epigenetics appears to be the next area of development researchers will focus on in the mission to improve the current standard of care for hematologic malignancies, specifically acute myeloid leukemia, according to Gail J. Roboz, M.D.

Roboz, director of the Leukemia Program, Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, presented an educational platform discussing the introduction of epigenetic and personalized therapies targeting AML at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition.

While the current standard of care has a solid track record of remission, the vast majority of patients with AML still die from their disease, meaning novel therapies are in demand.

“Epigenetics is a hot topic right now in hematologic malignancies in general and is certainly receiving much attention here at ASH…,” Roboz said. “We’re trying to gain some answers with ongoing research. In particular, the measurement and eradication of minimal residual disease is doing very well in acute lymphocytic leukemia and we hope that AML is going to have some novel improvements as well.”

For a full list of abstracts presented at ASH, visit the New Developments in Lymphoma blog.