Pediatric AML in Resource-Limited Countries

Annually, an estimated 20,000 children develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) worldwide. In high-income countries (HICs), survival rates exceed 75%, whereas in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), survival rates are merely 10–40%. Reasons for these differences are the lack of early recognition and referral, the lack of diagnostic and treatment response monitoring capacities, the lack of resources for adequate anticancer treatment, the lack of adequate supportive care measures, and high rates of treatment abandonment. The main challenge in treating AML in LMIC settings is the balance between anticancer treatment, and adequate supportive care measures. To address these inequalities in childhood cancer outcomes, collaborative efforts should be made to improve the care and survival for all children with cancer.