title: How I treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: The Philadelphia chromosome is present in approximately 20% to 30% of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The poor prognosis of this relatively uncommon acute leukemia has led to the rapid adoption of treatment strategies such as unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplant and tyrosine kinase inhibitors into clinical practice, despite a relative paucity of randomized clinical trials. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the underlying biology of ALL. In combination with an accumulation of more mature clinical study data in Philadelphia-positive ALL, it is increasingly possible to make more rational and informed treatment choices for patients of all ages. In this article, I review available data and indicate how I personally interpret current evidence to make pragmatic treatment choices with my patients, outside of clinical trials. My strongest recommendation is that all physicians who are treating this rare disease actively seek appropriate clinical trials for their patients wherever possible.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, United Kingdom. a.fielding@medsch.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Adele K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001549:Benzamides; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000069439:Dasatinib; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D009154:Mutation; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D000069439:Dasatinib