Do the benefits of genetic testing outweigh the risk of treatment delays in acute myeloid leukemia patients?

The findings of a new retrospective study – published this week in Blood – suggest that the benefits of awaiting genetic testing conferred to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients outweigh the risks of delaying treatment. AML is an aggressive cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow, progression is usually rapid and individuals are often diagnosed soon after symptoms present. It is standard for doctors to commence chemotherapy immediately following diagnosis.Standard testing for AML includes blood tests to analyze white blood cell count and measure levels of biomarkers that can predict cancer progression. Additionally, echocardiograms and lung assessments are carried out...