Update on therapeutic options for chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder triggered by a chromosomally induced mutation in a pluripotent stem cell. Its progressive clinical course consists of a chronic or benign phase, which terminates in blast crisis. Historically, treatment has been limited: conventional chemotherapy yields a median survival of approximately 36 to 42 months, and bone marrow transplantation, while achieving success in more than half of patients treated, is limited to younger patients with HLA-matched siblings. Treatment with interferon alfa in CML was initiated in 1981. The first studies were performed using partially pure interferon alfa; these studies were followed by treatment regimens employing interferon alfa-2a.
Talpaz
M
M
Department of Clinical Immunology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030.
Kantarjian
H
H
Kurzrock
R
R
Gutterman
J U
JU
D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins