title: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a neoplasm characterized by the accumulation of monoclonal lymphocytes in blood, bone marrow, and other tissues. Staging of the disease is based on lymphoid mass and the presence of anemia or thrombocytopenia, with prognosis also related to the pattern of bone-marrow involvement, chromosomal abnormalities, and surface membrane phenotype. Transformation to a diffuse large-cell lymphoma or to prolymphocytic leukemia may occur as a terminal event. A number of biochemical and surface membrane abnormalities that may suggest approaches for future clinical investigations have been described.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents