Chronic myeloid leukemia: A therapeutic model of molecular biology

Leucemia mieloide crónica: Un modelo terapéutico de biología molecular

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a clonal disorder characterized by the proliferation of myeloid elements at all stages of maturation. It was the first neoplasm associated with a constant acquired genetic anomaly and is currently the best studied molecular model of leukemia. The knowledge of the crucial genetic event and the phenotypic abnormalities that it causes, as well as the development of biotechnology, offer a unique opportunity to develop therapies aimed at a molecular target in a rational way. A descriptive, retrospective study was carried out, analyzing the clinical records of the patients treated during the years 1992 to 2002 in the Hematology Service of the Hospital of San José. We analyzed 34 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia; 25 (73.5%) were men. The average age was 43.14 years +/- 14.4. The reason for consultation in the majority of patients (61.8%) was due to general symptoms. Only one was diagnosed during the acceleration phase. A cytogenetic study was performed in 27, of which 20 were Philadelphia positive. The initial treatment was hydroxyurea in 17 patients (50%), busulfan in 5.9%, interferon in 2.9%, hydroxyurea plus busulfan 2.9%. Eight (24%) presented acceleration phase and nine (26%) blast crisis. To date, 25 patients (73.5%) are alive. The median survival was 29.7 months +/- 31.14. Chronic myeloid leukemia is the first successful model of neoplasia treated with substances aimed at the molecular event, and opens the door to new ways of addressing this type of disease.

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