Chronic myeloid leukaemia as a model of disease evolution in human cancer.
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) can be considered as a paradigm for neoplasias that evolve through a multi-step process. CML is also one of the best examples of a disease that can be targeted by molecular therapy; however, the success of new 'designer drugs' is largely restricted to the chronic phase of the disease. If not cured at this stage, CML invariably progresses and transforms into an acute-type leukaemia undergoing a 'blast crisis'. The causes of this transformation are still poorly understood. What mechanisms underlie this progression, and are they shared by other common cancers?
Melo
Junia V
JV
Department of Haematology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK. j.melo@imperial.ac.uk
Barnes
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D001752:Blast Crisis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000502:physiology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl