Abstract

MORALES, CATALINA et al. Chronic myeloid leukemia: diagnosis and treatment. CES Med. [online]. 2010, vol.24, n.1, pp.97-108. ISSN 0120-8705.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 5.050 new cases of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were diagnosed in United States in 2009. About 470 persons in the United States will die of chronic myeloid leukemia in 2009, with an age range going from 45 to 55, a mean from 53 to 55, with less than 10% under 20 years, with a male to female proportion of 1,4:1. This kind of leukemia represents between 15-20% of all leukemias, with an incidence of 1 to 2 cases per each 100,000 adults. More than 50% of the patients diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia will be asymptomatic at the time of the diagnosis and will have a life expectancy less than 39% if they compared to healthy adults. CML affects adults principally and it is associated to a chromosomal abnormality called the Philadelphia Chromosome, which generates an abnormal gene called BCR-ABL. This gene produces an abnormal protein called Tyrosine-Kinase, believed to cause growth and development in the cells affected by the leukemia. The disease has 3 phases: chronic, accelerated and blastic. Each phase has a different duration time, clinical presentation and response to treatment. The accelerated phase and blastic phase are considered advanced phases, and 15% of the total patients will have reached those phases at the time of the chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis. Imanitib is the first multiple synthetic Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor. The union of this medication to the ATP binding sites of the inactive BCR-ABL Kinase conformation achieves the inhibition of the growth and induces apoptosis of the cells that express that conformation. Approximately 20 to 30% of the patients to whom Imatinib is administered will develop resistance. Dasatinib (BMS-354825) is the first therapy authorized by the FDA as a treatment of the CML which is resistant or intolerant to Imatinib.

Keywords : Leukemia; Myelogenous; Philadelphia chromosome; Imatinib; Dasatinib; Resistence.

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