There is currently a conundrum regarding the differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. In this interview, Stéphane de Botton, MD, PhD of the Gustave Roussy Institute, Villejuif, France, speaking at the International Conference on Acute Myeloid Leukaemia 2017, Estoril, Portugal by the European School of Haematology (ESH), suggests diagnosing patients based on their genotype. He also stresses the significance of new and existing treatments, including chemotherapy, broad spectrum agents and immunotherapies.