Acute Myeloid Leukemia Research

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At City of Hope, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) clinicians and researchers collaborate extensively to develop and evaluate new therapies for better survival and quality-of-life outcomes. Our patients have access to a wide variety of clinical trials including new chemotherapy and targeted therapies, hormone therapies with fewer side effects, novel surgical techniques, innovative radiation approaches, and new prevention strategies.

These trials give current patients access to promising, leading-edge therapies and improve overall care for future patients worldwide. Visit our clinical trials page to learn more about current studies and their eligibility criteria.

Some of our current AML research projects include:

  • CAR T cell therapy: Immune system cells called T cells guard against disease; they can detect invaders such as bacteria and viruses and destroy them. City of Hope scientists are currently investigating to see how these cells can be reprogrammed to recognize and attack leukemia, as well.
  • Improving AML subtype profiling: AML is a collection of over 100 abnormalities that lead to uncontrolled cell growth. Our researchers are actively studying these AML subtypes, and whether they have specific genetic or molecular targets to focus therapy on.
  • Investigating "leukemia stem cells" that allow the disease to relapse and grow following cancer treatment. By better understanding the biology of these cancer stem cells, scientists and clinicians hope to develop more effective therapies that produce lasting cures.
  • Enhance bone marrow/stem cell transplants: While stem cell transplants can be a lifesaving procedure for patients with AML, they also carry a risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), in which the newly transplanted stem cells do not recognize the recipient’s body as their own and start producing an immune response against it, leading to chronic and potentially serious complications. To reduce the likelihood of GvHD and to improve transplant outcomes, City of Hope is researching new ways to classify and match stem cell donors and recipients.