[Analysis of clinical-biological features of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

Introducction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a clonal disease characterized by a proliferation of immature cells. In immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular studies, it is a heterogeneous disease with diverse manifestations and prognoses. The treatment is complex and is associated with complications during its course.

[Response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myeloid leukemia].

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia represents 15 % of all the leukemias in adults. With the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, overall survival at 10 years is 80-90 %. The objective was to describe the epidemiology, complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

A phase II open-label study of the intravenous administration of homoharringtonine in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Homoharringtonine is an alkaloid inhibitor of protein synthesis with activity in myeloid malignancies. We report a phase II pilot study of homoharringtonine in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Induction consisted of homoharringtonine at 2.

Incidence of extramedullary disease in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia: a single-institution experience.

Using current treatment regimens, over 90% of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia will achieve complete remission (CR). However, approximately 30% of these patients will relapse, including a small proportion who will develop extramedullary disease (EMD). In this study, we investigated the incidence of EMD in 263 patients with APL who were treated at our institution from January 1990 to May 2008.

Phase II study of imatinib mesylate as therapy for patients with systemic mastocytosis.

Gain-of-function D816V point mutation within the kinase domain of the transmembrane receptor KIT is found in the great majority of patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) and is attractive therapeutic target. Twenty patients with SM were enrolled during 2003-2005 in phase II clinical trial with imatinib mesylate (400mg daily), a KIT inhibitor. Median time on therapy was 9 months (range, 0.

Secondary myelodysplastic syndrome in a patient with Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia after achieving a major molecular response with hyperCVAD plus imatinib mesylate.

The addition of imatinib to high-intensity chemotherapy has improved the outcome of patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, the possible long-term side effects of this combination are not yet known. Development of new clonal abnormalities in complete cytogenetic remission after treatment with imatinib has been reported in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia but not in patients with Ph-positive ALL.