Response to the letter by Najfeld regarding the article “Chromosome abnormalities additional to the Philadelphia chromosome at the diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia: pathogenetic and prognostic implications”

2010 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 357
Author(s):  
Alfonso Zaccaria
1983 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
pp. 669-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Jain ◽  
Z Arlin ◽  
R Mertelsmann ◽  
T Gee ◽  
S Kempin ◽  
...  

Twenty-eight patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)--positive and terminal transferase (TdT)--positive acute leukemia (AL) were treated with intensive chemotherapy used for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (L-10 and L-10M protocols). Fifteen patients had a documented chronic phase of Ph1-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia preceding the acute transformation (TdT + BLCML) while the remaining 13 patients did not (TdT + Ph1 + AL). An overall complete remission (CR) rate of 71% was obtained with a median survival of 13 months in the responders. Clinical presentation, laboratory data, cytogenetics, response to treatment, and survivals of the two groups of patients are compared. These results appear to be similar, suggesting a common or closely related origin. Since the overall survival of those receiving chemotherapy maintenance is poor, three patients underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from histocompatibility leukocyte antigen--matched siblings after they achieved CR. One of them is a long-term survivor (35 + months) with a Ph1-negative bone marrow. New techniques such as BMT should be considered in young patients with a histocompatibility leukocyte antigen--compatible sibling once a CR has been achieved.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 105 (7) ◽  
pp. 2733-2740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baijun Fang ◽  
Chunmei Zheng ◽  
Lianming Liao ◽  
Qin Han ◽  
Zhao Sun ◽  
...  

AbstractOverwhelming evidence from leukemia research has shown that the clonal population of neoplastic cells exhibits marked heterogeneity with respect to proliferation and differentiation. There are rare stem cells within the leukemic population that possess extensive proliferation and self-renewal capacity not found in the majority of the leukemic cells. These leukemic stem cells are necessary and sufficient to maintain the leukemia. Interestingly, the BCR/ABL fusion gene, which is present in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), was also detected in the endothelial cells of patients with CML, suggesting that CML might originate from hemangioblastic progenitor cells that can give rise to both blood cells and endothelial cells. Here we isolated fetal liver kinase-1–positive (Flk1+) cells carrying the BCR/ABL fusion gene from the bone marrow of 17 Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) patients with CML and found that these cells could differentiate into malignant blood cells and phenotypically defined endothelial cells at the single-cell level. These findings provide direct evidence for the first time that rearrangement of the BCR/ABL gene might happen at or even before the level of hemangioblastic progenitor cells, thus resulting in detection of the BCR/ABL fusion gene in both blood and endothelial cells.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (10) ◽  
pp. 3547-3553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagop M. Kantarjian ◽  
Jorge Cortes ◽  
Susan O'Brien ◽  
Francis J. Giles ◽  
Maher Albitar ◽  
...  

Molecular abnormalities caused by the hybrid Bcr-Abl gene are causally associated with the development and progression of Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Imatinib mesylate (STI571), a specific Bcr-Abl tyrosine-kinase signal-transduction inhibitor, has shown encouraging activity in phase I and II studies of CML. Here, we describe the use of imatinib mesylate to treat 75 patients in blast-phase CML (median age, 53 years; 65 with nonlymphoid and 10 with lymphoid blasts), and compare the results with those of a historical control group treated with standard cytarabine-based therapy. Imatinib mesylate was given as oral doses at 300 to 1000 mg per day and was the first salvage therapy for 47 patients. The objective response rate was 52% (39 of 75 patients: 16 had complete and 3 had partial hematologic response; 12 had hematologic improvement; 7 returned to second chronic phase; and 1 had a complete response in extramedullary blastic disease). Response rates were not different between nonlymphoid and lymphoid groups. The cytogenetic response rate was 16% (12 patients: 5 complete, 3 partial [Ph+ below 35%], and 4 minor [Ph+, 34% to 90%]). The estimated median overall survival was 6.5 months; the estimated 1-year survival was 22%. Response to therapy (landmark analysis at 8 weeks) was associated with survival prolongation. Compared with standard cytarabine combinations, imatinib mesylate therapy was less toxic and produced a higher response rate (55% versus 29%, P = .001), longer median survival (7 versus 4 months, P = .04), and lower 4-week induction mortality (4% versus 15%, P = .07). Imatinib mesylate is currently being tested in combination with other drugs to improve the prognosis for blast-phase CML.


Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Jonas ◽  
M Lubbert ◽  
ES Kawasaki ◽  
M Henke ◽  
KJ Bross ◽  
...  

The cytogenetic hallmark of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1), which reflects a chromosomal translocation t(9;22) and a rearrangement of the ABL and bcr genes. This marker is found in all cells arising from the same malignant precursor cell and can be detected in CML cells of the myeloid, monocytic, erythroid, and B-lymphocyte lineage. It is, however, controversial as to whether T lymphocytes of CML patients carry this gene rearrangement. An answer to this question would clarify whether the translocation in CML occurs in a pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell or in a precursor cell already committed to certain lineages, but not the T-cell lineage. To address this question, we established T-cell clones from peripheral venous blood cells of four patients with CML and screened these clones for bcr-abl fusion transcripts by means of polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. In four T-cell clones of three of these patients, the bcr-abl transcript could be detected. None of 12 T-cell clones of the fourth patient disclosed detectable bcr-abl amplification product. Both CD4+ as well as CD8+ clones displayed fused bcr-abl sequences. These data imply that in CML some but not all T lymphocytes may originate from the Ph1-positive stem cell.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-299
Author(s):  
GERALD E. BLOOM ◽  
PARK S. GERALD ◽  
LOUIS K. DIAMOND

An 8-month-old child is described who showed typical features of the adult type of chronic myelogenous leukemia including the Philadelphia chromosome. As far as known, this is the youngest patient reported with this disease. Serial fetal hemoglobin levels and cytogenetic studies are presented and discussed in terms of their possible relationship to the origin of the two types of chronic myelogenous leukemia found in childhood.


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