Chronic Leukemias: Oncogenes, Chromosomes, and Advances in Therapy

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-104-5-671

Chronic Leukemias: Oncogenes, Chromosomes, and Advances in Therapy

RICHARD CHAMPLIN, M.D.;
ROBERT PETER GALE, M.D., Ph.D.;
KENNETH A. FOON, M.D.; and
DAVID W. GOLDE, M.D.

Los Angeles, California

Abstract

Substantial advances have been made recently in understanding the biology and treatment of the chronic leukemias. Recent data are summarized on the role of retroviruses, oncogenes, and chromosomal rearrangements in the pathophysiology of these disorders, particularly the translocation and abnormal transcription of the c-abl oncogene in chronic myelogenous leukemia and the identification of a family of human T-cell leukemia viruses as causative agents in certain lymphoid leukemias. Interferon, monoclonal antibodies, and other biologic agents have been evaluated as therapy for chronic leukemias. Alpha-interferon has definite efficacy in therapy for hairy cell leukemia, an otherwise refractory malignancy. Intensive chemoradiotherapy with bone marrow transplantation has been established as effective therapy, providing long-term disease-free survival, for selected patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and possibly other forms of chronic leukemias.

Article and Author Information

▸An edited summary of an Interdepartmental Conference arranged by the Department of Medicine of the UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California. William M. Pardridge, M.D., is Director of Conferences.
▸Authors who wish to cite a section of the conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:

GALE RP. Chromosomes, oncogenes, and retroviruses in the chronic leukemias, pp 671-7. In: CHAMPLIN R, moderator. Chronic leukemias: oncogenes, chromosomes, and advances in therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:671-88.
Grant support: by grants CA23175, CA30388, and CA32737 from the National Cancer Institute; and by grant RR00865 from the U. S. Public Health Service.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Richard Champlin, M.D.; Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCLA School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90024.