Pinkal Desai, MD

Pinkal Desai, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, discusses the factors a practicing physician should consider when selecting an appropriate induction therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The first factor to consider is the age of a patient. Even in the older population, this is still relevant because someone who is younger could be a candidate for chemotherapy treatment, but patients over the age of 75 should not receive chemotherapy as they often cannot tolerate the drug(s).

Desai says the second factor to consider in patients with AML, particularly older patients with AML, is comorbidities. Physicians should consider heart function, liver function, and others to determine the appropriate induction therapy for their patient.

The molecular profile should also be determined and considered for patients. For example, those with

mutations may be candidates for a FLT3 inhibitor.&nbsp;

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Pinkal Desai, MD, discusses the factors a practicing physician should consider when selecting an appropriate induction therapy for patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Pinkal Desai, MD | Authors

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Factors Impacting Induction Therapy Selection in AML