Gitnux/Report 2026

Acute Myeloid Leukemia Statistics

With a US 5 year relative survival rate of about 30% for AML and typical median overall survival for unfit older patients historically only 4 to 10 months, this page highlights why outcomes can diverge so sharply when molecular testing and targeted therapies come into play, including how azacitidine plus venetoclax improves overall survival beyond azacitidine alone. You will also see trial endpoints like CRi and MRD negativity, plus how 18,000 plus AML clinical trials on ClinicalTrials.gov worldwide reflect the push to turn genetics such as FLT3, IDH1 and IDH2 into measurable patient benefit.
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia Statistics
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Nov 2026
With over 18,000 registered AML clinical trials worldwide and a 5 year relative survival rate around 30 percent in the United States, Acute Myeloid Leukemia is a disease where the gap between research activity and patient outcomes is stark. Yet newer trial endpoints such as CRi and MRD negativity, plus mutation guided care for targets like FLT3 and IDH1/2, are reshaping how outcomes are measured. These AML statistics connect survival, treatment fit, and genetics in ways that often surprise even seasoned readers.

Key Takeaways

  • 5-year relative survival for AML in the United States is about 30% (SEER, all races)
  • In unfit older AML patients, median overall survival historically ranges around 4–10 months depending on regimen (review estimates)
  • Measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity is associated with improved survival in AML across multiple studies (MRD prognostic meta findings)
  • NCCN recommends molecular testing for mutations including FLT3 and IDH1/2 in AML to guide targeted therapy selection
  • Azacitidine is one of the commonly used hypomethylating agents for AML patients who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy
  • Complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity are common endpoints in AML trials evaluating targeted therapies
  • Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine has demonstrated improved overall survival vs azacitidine alone in AML patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (5-year follow-up reports)
  • Azacitidine vs conventional care regimens showed improved overall survival in AML patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy (median OS reported in pivotal trial)
  • Decitabine vs conventional care regimens improved survival in certain older unfit AML populations (median OS reported in randomized trial)
  • NPM1-mutated AML is associated with cytogenetically normal disease frequently; NPM1 mutation prevalence reported around 30% of AML (review)
  • WHO classification updates for AML categories rely on genetic and clinical features including defining mutations (framework described in WHO/ICC updates)
  • In 2024, there were 18,000+ registered clinical trials for AML worldwide on ClinicalTrials.gov (aggregate count for AML condition tag)
  • The global oncology therapeutics market is measured in the hundreds of billions USD annually (context for AML within oncology)
  • The acute leukemia segment is included within broader hematology cancer drug markets measured in billions of dollars globally (hematology oncology market sizing)
  • The global CAR-T therapy market is projected to exceed $10 billion; AML is a target indication in ongoing development (adjacent hematologic malignancies)

AML survival remains low but targeted testing and drugs like azacitidine plus venetoclax improve outcomes.

01 · Category

Survival Outcomes3 stats

01
5-year relative survival for AML in the United States is about 30% (SEER, all races)
02
In unfit older AML patients, median overall survival historically ranges around 4–10 months depending on regimen (review estimates)
03
Measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity is associated with improved survival in AML across multiple studies (MRD prognostic meta findings)
Interpretation

Survival Outcomes Interpretation

For the Survival Outcomes outlook in AML, the overall 5-year relative survival in the United States is only about 30%, reflecting that many unfit older patients historically live roughly 4 to 10 months, yet the key prognostic bright spot is that achieving MRD negativity is linked with better survival across multiple studies.

02 · Category

Clinical Management3 stats

01
NCCN recommends molecular testing for mutations including FLT3 and IDH1/2 in AML to guide targeted therapy selection
02
Azacitidine is one of the commonly used hypomethylating agents for AML patients who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy
03
Complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) and measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity are common endpoints in AML trials evaluating targeted therapies
Interpretation

Clinical Management Interpretation

In clinical management of AML, major guidelines and trial endpoints emphasize tailoring therapy to molecular findings such as FLT3 and IDH1/2 and using agents like azacitidine for patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy, with CRi plus MRD negativity emerging as a common success measure.

03 · Category

Therapies & Pipelines7 stats

01
Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine has demonstrated improved overall survival vs azacitidine alone in AML patients ineligible for intensive chemotherapy (5-year follow-up reports)
02
Azacitidine vs conventional care regimens showed improved overall survival in AML patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy (median OS reported in pivotal trial)
03
Decitabine vs conventional care regimens improved survival in certain older unfit AML populations (median OS reported in randomized trial)
04
CPX-351 improved overall survival vs 7+3 in therapy-related AML and AML with myelodysplasia-related changes (pivotal trial median OS reported)
05
Gilteritinib improved overall survival vs investigator’s choice chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory FLT3-mutated AML (ADMIRAL trial reported OS)
06
Ivosidenib improved outcomes vs placebo in relapsed/refractory IDH1-mutated AML (AGILE trial reported OS metrics)
07
Enasidenib improved survival vs placebo in relapsed/refractory IDH2-mutated AML (pivotal trial reported outcomes)
Interpretation

Therapies & Pipelines Interpretation

For the Therapies and Pipelines angle, multiple AML pathway targeted and low intensity regimens are showing survival gains that persist in pivotal follow ups, including Venetoclax plus azacitidine improving overall survival versus azacitidine alone with 5 year follow up results while agents like CPX-351, gilteritinib, ivosidenib, and enasidenib also report overall survival improvements in their respective high risk settings.

04 · Category

Biomarkers1 stats

01
NPM1-mutated AML is associated with cytogenetically normal disease frequently; NPM1 mutation prevalence reported around 30% of AML (review)
Interpretation

Biomarkers Interpretation

From a biomarkers perspective, NPM1 mutations appear in roughly 30% of AML cases and are often linked to cytogenetically normal disease, suggesting a relatively common molecular marker with clear diagnostic and prognostic relevance.

06 · Category

Market Size4 stats

01
The global oncology therapeutics market is measured in the hundreds of billions USD annually (context for AML within oncology)
02
The acute leukemia segment is included within broader hematology cancer drug markets measured in billions of dollars globally (hematology oncology market sizing)
03
The global CAR-T therapy market is projected to exceed $10 billion; AML is a target indication in ongoing development (adjacent hematologic malignancies)
04
Medicare data show that beneficiaries with leukemia generate higher spending compared with many other cancer types; leukemia spending is reported in national analyses
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

The market size outlook for acute myeloid leukemia is supported by the fact that oncology therapeutics are measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually, with acute leukemia fitting within hematology drug markets worth billions globally, while next generation options like CAR T are projected to exceed $10 billion worldwide and leukemia consistently drives higher Medicare spending than many other cancer types.

07 · Category

Epidemiology3 stats

01
GLOBOCAN estimates leukemia (all types) accounts for a measurable share of global cancer incidence; AML is a major component (IARC fact sheet)
02
IARC GLOBOCAN provides annual global incidence and mortality estimates for leukemia, which includes AML
03
The National Cancer Institute lists AML as a cancer with risk increasing with age and median diagnosis age around 68 (NCI/SEER)
Interpretation

Epidemiology Interpretation

From an epidemiology perspective, AML is a major part of the global leukemia burden tracked by IARC GLOBOCAN through annual incidence and mortality estimates, and in the United States its risk steadily rises with age with a median diagnosis around 68, underscoring how both population level incidence and aging shape who develops AML.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Acute Myeloid Leukemia Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/acute-myeloid-leukemia-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/acute-myeloid-leukemia-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Acute Myeloid Leukemia Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/acute-myeloid-leukemia-statistics.

Sources & references

23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)