Secondary acute myeloid leukemia after platinum based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer

Among chemotherapeutic regimens used for advanced ovarian cancer, platinum-based combination chemotherapy remains a mainstay of the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, providing significant response rates and survival benefits. However, with widespread use of longterm chemotherapy in treating ovarian cancer, emergence of secondary leukemia has become medical concern as one of the most unfavorable late complications. Depending upon the type, duration, and dosage of previous chemotherapy, the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia has been estimated to be between 2% and 10%. Moreover, the frequency of this complication might increase as the survival in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing chemotherapy continues to increase with developing therapeutic options. Recently, we experienced a case of secondary acute myeloid leukemia developing 3.5 years after platinum-based chemotherapy. In this report, clinical course of the patient and contributing factors for the secondary leukemia were presented.