title: Chronic granulocytic leukemia: the devastating consequences of genetic instability.
abstract: Recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) are reviewed. Three major phases of CGL are recognizable: the presymptomatic phase, the chronic phase, and the metamorphosis. The molecular dissection of the Philadelphia chromosome has revealed that this translocation activates the c-abl oncogene by fusion with another gene called bcr whose function is as yet unknown. Although almost all patients with CGL still succumb within 10 years of diagnosis, alpha-interferon and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation represent promising newer therapeutic developments. In particular, marrow transplantation appears to have curative potential in CGL.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000235:genetics; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013156:Splenectomy; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D007372:Interferons