Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia — New Concepts

Abstract
TreatmentSeveral chemotherapeutic strategies have been developed for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The conventional approach is to give moderate doses of an alkylating agent or DNA-synthesis inhibitor to reduce the overproduction of granulocytes. As the disease evolves into blast crisis, this approach is no longer effective. Aggressive experimental protocols have been developed with the aim of destroying as many leukemic cells as possible and allowing normal hematopoietic cells to repopulate the bone marrow. This goal is easier to accomplish in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) because drugs such as vincristine, corticosteroids, and L-asparaginase are highly effective in destroying . . .