Prognostic factors and treatment of patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience.

Background: T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (T-NHL) are more aggressive and patients have a poorer prognosis compared with patients with the corresponding B-cell lymphomas. Although intensive treatments have been developed, it is unknown whether they are more effective than CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, oncovorin, and prednisone).

Methods: The authors' retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcome of 135 previously untreated patients with T-NHL who were treated at The University of Texas M.

Monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Traditional therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has consisted of alkylating agents, purine analogs, or a combination of these drugs. These agents are effective at producing remissions but are not curative.Thus, new drugs are still needed to improve the outcome of patients with CLL.

Spontaneous reversion from blast to chronic phase after withdrawal of imatinib mesylate in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Imatinib mesylate, a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, has been very effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase with high rates of hematological and cytogenetic remissions. Resistance to therapy can develop and transformation to blast crisis may occur, particularly in patients without a cytogenetic response. We report a case of a patient with CML treated in chronic phase who developed blast crisis; withdrawal of imatinib mesylate resulted in spontaneous reversion to chronic phase.