Pathogenesis and treatment of leukemia: an Asian perspective.
BACKGROUND
Leukemias occur worldwide, but there are important geographic differences in incidences.


METHODS
Three leukemias with special Asian perspectives, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia and NK-cell leukemia.


CONCLUSIONS
In APL, China has made contributions in discovering the efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide. Some APL patients are potentially curable after treatment with ATRA or arsenic trioxide as a single agent. Combined treatment of APL with ATRA and arsenic trioxide induces remission with deeper molecular response. An oral formulation of arsenic trioxide is available, making outpatient treatment feasible. Future regimens for APL should examine how ATRA and arsenic trioxide can be optimally combined with other synergistic drugs. Asian patients with T-LGL leukemia present more frequently with pure red cell aplasia, but less frequently with neutropenia, recurrent infection, splenomegaly and rheumatoid arthritis as compared with Western patients. These differences have potential effects on treatment and disease pathogenesis. NK-cell leukemia is rapidly fatal and occurs almost exclusively in Asian and South American patients. Conventional anthracycline-based chemotherapy designed for B-cell lymphomas do not work in NK-cell leukemias. Novel therapeutic approaches targeting cellular signaling pathways or preferentially upregulated genes are needed to improve outcome.
Queen Mary Hospital, Department of Medicine, Professorial Block, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China. ylkwong@hkucc.hku.hk
Yok-Lam
YL
Kwong
D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044466:Asian People; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D054066:Leukemia, Large Granular Lymphocytic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000209:etiology; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D014212:Tretinoin; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide