Understanding the molecular basis of acute myeloid leukemias : where are we now?

Although the treatment modalities for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have not changed much over the past 40 years, distinct progress has been made in deciphering the basic biology underlying the pathogenesis of this group of hematological disorders. Studies show that AML development is a multicause, multistep and multipathway process. Accordingly, AMLs constitute a heterogeneous group of diseases. The thorough understanding of the molecular basis of AML is paving the way for better therapeutic approaches. Multiple novel drugs are being introduced and new, more efficient and less toxic formulations of conventional therapeutics are becoming available. Here, we review the recent advances in the comprehension of the molecular processes that lead to the onset of AML and its translation into clinical practice.