A review was done by an international panel of experts of literature concerning chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) for the recommendation of treatment options. The panel included ten members that reviewed 194 papers on CML written since 1998.
The article was recently published in the journal Blood. Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) has become a standard treatment for Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML. Specific guidelines for the use of Gleevec in the treatment of CML have recently been compiled.
- All newly diagnosed patients should be treated with 400 mg of Gleevec per day.
- Patients who do not respond to Gleevec should be treated with higher doses, an allogeneic stem cell transplantation, or experimental therapy. This experimental therapy could include agents designed to over come resistance to Gleevec.
Responses to treatment can be determined by several laboratory tests. Talk to your physician about specific details regarding responses to Gleevec.
1. Meeting the Minds Behind Gleevec
By a MD/PHD candidate Zach Goldsmith
http://oncologyupdates.blogspot.com/
Posted at 3:30PM on Sep 20th 2006 by Gregory D. Pawelski