[Drug therapy of chronic myeloid leukemia].
METHODS
According to the evidence-based guidelines for the therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) the combination of interferon alpha (IFN) and hydroxyurea with or without low dose ara-C is the standard treatment for chronic phase CML, if no allogeneic stem cell transplantation is requested. STI571: In cases of IFN failure the new tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 (Glivec) shows high response rates. STI571 specifically inhibits the BCR-ABL fusion protein which is pathogenetically relevant for CML and shows abnormal tyrosine kinase activity. 91% of all CML patients in chronic phase achieve a hematologic remission within 11 months and 55% cytogenetic remission. In blast crisis, 29% achieve hematologic remission which may be durable.


CONCLUSIONS
The available data represent response rates. Until survival data are available, the evidence-based recommendations will remain valid.
Hochhaus
Andreas
A
III. Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim. hochhaus@uni-hd.de
Berger
Ute
U
Reiter
Andreas
A
Lahaye
Tanja
T
Kreil
Sebastian
S
Hehlmann
Rüdiger
R
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl