Comparison of imatinib 400 mg and 800 mg daily in the front-line treatment of high-risk, Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia: a European LeukemiaNet Study.

Imatinib mesylate (IM), 400 mg daily, is the standard treatment of Philadelphia-positive (Ph(+)) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Preclinical data and results of single-arm studies raised the suggestion that better results could be achieved with a higher dose. To investigate whether the systematic use of a higher dose of IM could lead to better results, 216 patients with Ph(+) CML at high risk (HR) according to the Sokal index were randomly assigned to receive IM 800 mg or 400 mg daily, as front-line therapy, for at least 1 year.

Hepatocyte growth factor in myeloma patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine produced by myeloma cells. We examined serum HGF levels in a population of young myeloma patients (median age 52 years) treated with high-dose chemotherapy. Sera from 128 myeloma patients at diagnosis and serial samples from 16 patients were analysed.

Intensive treatment in order to minimize the Ph-positive clone in CML. Danish-Swedish CML Group.

With the rationale that a significant reduction of the malignant clone in CML might prolong time to metamorphosis, intensive treatment was given to patients < or = 55 years. Six months of hydroxyurea and high dose interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) was followed by one to three courses of intensive chemotherapy. Patients who had a donor were allotransplanted and patients who became Ph-negative in bone marrow were autotransplanted.

Autologous splenic implantation in pigs. A comparison of two methods.

Two methods of autologous splenic implantation, with sliced or with minced splenic tissue, were compared in six pigs. The two procedures were carried out simultaneously in each pig and the splenic remnants were surgically removed three months later. These remnants were histomorphometrically quantified by point counting.

Demonstration of splenic functions following splenectomy and autologous spleen implantation.

Autologous splenic tissue was implanted in 14 patients undergoing splenectomy for traumatic rupture or peroperatively arising lesion of the spleen. To demonstrate function of the implanted splenic tissue, spleen scintigraphy using 99mTc-labelled heat-damaged autologous erythrocytes, and percentage measurement of vacuolated erythrocytes in peripheral blood were performed one and three months after the splenectomy. The spleen scans were positive in eight patients after one month and in 12 patients after three months, demonstrating splenic phagocytic function.