Francis Giles

Results of intensive chemotherapy in 998 patients age 65 years or older with acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome: predictive prognostic models for outcome.

Elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) generally have a poor prognosis. AML‐type therapy results are often derived from studies in younger patients and may not apply to elderly AML. Many investigators and oncologists advocate, at times, only supportive care or frontline single agents, Phase I–II studies, low‐intensity regimens, or ‘targeted’ therapies. However, baseline expectations for outcomes of elderly AML with ‘standard’ AML‐type therapy are not well defined. The aim was to develop prognostic models for complete response (CR), induction (8‐week) mortality, and survival rates in elderly AML, which would be used to advise oncologists and patients of expectations with standard AML type therapy, and to establish baseline therapy results against which novel strategies would be evaluated.

Results of imatinib mesylate therapy in patients with refractory or recurrent acute myeloid leukemia, high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, and myeloproliferative disorders.

Imatinib mesylate is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor of c‐abl, bcr/abl, c‐kit, and platelet‐derived growth factor‐receptor (PDGF‐R). c‐kit is expressed in most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and PDGF has been implicated in the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).

The significance of myelosuppression during therapy with imatinib mesylate in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase

Imatinib mesylate induces high rates of hematologic and cytogenetic response in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). During therapy with imatinib, up to 45% of patients with CML reportedly experience myelosuppression ≥ Grade 3, requiring interruption of therapy and/or dose reductions. The significance of myelosuppression for response to imatinib is unknown.

Long-term follow-up results of the combination of topotecan and cytarabine and other intensive chemotherapy regimens in myelodysplastic syndrome

Progressive or higher‐risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is often treated with intensive chemotherapy regimens used for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Patients with MDS are often older and may have contraindications to anthracycline‐based regimens. Topotecan‐cytarabine regimens have shown encouraging results in higher‐risk MDS. The aim of this study was to analyze the long‐term results with topotecan‐cytarabine versus other intensive chemotherapy regimens in higher‐risk MDS.

Effects of age on prognosis with imatinib mesylate therapy for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Older age is a consistent poor prognostic factor in patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)‐positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Whether this is related to an intrinsic worse disease biology or to inadequate drug delivery or excessive treatment‐associated toxicity is unknown. The availability of imatinib mesylate, a selective, Bcr‐Abl‐targeted therapy that is administered orally with minimal side effects, may clarify whether older age would remain an adverse factor (thus, implying a different age‐related CML biology).

AMN107, a novel aminopyrimidine inhibitor of p190 Bcr-Abl activation and of in vitro proliferation of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Previous studies have shown that patients with Bcr‐Abl–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) either have primary disease that is refractory to imatinib mesylate or develop disease recurrence after an initial response.

Liposomal amphotericin B versus the combination of fluconazole and itraconazole as prophylaxis for invasive fungal infections during induction chemotherapy for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

Fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The authors evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of liposomal amphotericin B (L‐AmB) compared with a combination of fluconazole plus itraconazole (F+I) as prophylaxis in this setting.

Phase II Study of Pentostatin in Advanced T-Cell Lymphoid Malignancies: Update of an M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Series

The goal of the current study was to assess the toxicity, safety, and efficacy of pentostatin in patients with T‐cell lymphoid malignancies.

Pilot study of lonafarnib, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor, in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic or accelerated phase that is resistant or refractory to imatinib therapy

Lonafarnib (SCH66336) is a nonpeptidomimetic farnesyl transferase inhibitor that has demonstrated significant preclinical activity against chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells and in CML animal models.

Outcome of Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia after Second Salvage Therapy

Although the prognosis is poor for patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) who have disease recurrence after frontline therapy, this is a general reflection of first salvage therapies. The outcome of patients undergoing second salvage therapy in relation to complete response (CR) rates and survival has not been documented. The authors analyzed the outcome of patients with AML undergoing second salvage therapy, and identified prognostic factors associated with response and survival.