Hagop Kantarjian

Use of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in the treatment of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia: The M. D. Anderson experience

Approximately 20–30% of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who are treated with all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and an anthracycline develop recurrent disease. It has been reported that arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is effective in this setting. The authors report the experience of The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with As2O3 in the treatment of patients with recurrent APL.

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.

Mylotarg™ (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) therapy is associated with hepatic venoocclusive disease in patients who have not received stem cell transplantation

Mylotarg™ (Wyeth‐Ayerst Laboratories, St. Davids, PA) is the brand name for a calicheamicin‐conjugated humanized anti‐CD33 monoclonal antibody (gemtuzumab ozogamicin, CMA‐676) and has been approved recently for the treatment of a subset of elderly patients who have relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Mylotarg is associated with an incidence of approximately 20% Grade 3 or 4 hyperbilirubinemia and liver transaminitis in this patient population. Hepatic venoocclusive disease (VOD) has been reported in patients who have undergone stem cell transplantation (SCT) after Mylotarg therapy. Outside of the SCT setting, VOD has been associated very rarely with cytotoxic therapy.

Complete cytogenetic and molecular responses to interferon-α-based therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia are associated with excellent long-term prognosis

Little is known regarding long‐term prognosis among patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)‐positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) who achieve a complete cytogenetic response (0% Ph‐positive cells) after treatment with interferon‐α.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia in nonlymphoid blastic phase: Analysis of the results of first salvage therapy with three different treatment approaches for 162 patients

The prognoses of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blastic phase (CML‐BP) are extremely poor. Treatment of patients with nonlymphoid CML‐BP is associated with very low response rates, a median survival of 2–3 months, and significant toxicities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of therapy in CML‐BP with different treatments in relation to response rate, survival, and toxicity.

The biology and therapy of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Much progress has been made in understanding the biology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This has translated into the recognition of several subgroups of ALL and the institution of risk‐adapted therapies. New therapies are emerging based on the definition of specific cytogenetic‐molecular abnormalities.

Relation between the duration of remission and hyperglycemia during induction chemotherapy for acute lymphocytic leukemia with a hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone/methotrexate–cytarabine regimen

Hyperglycemia, which is not uncommon during the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), has been shown to be an independent predictor of adverse outcomes among hospitalized patients with undiagnosed diabetes; it also may have the potential to affect leukemic cell proliferation through altered metabolism. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence of hyperglycemia during induction chemotherapy for ALL using a regimen comprised of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (Hyper‐CVAD) and to determine its effect on survival, duration of disease remission, and treatment‐related complications.

Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels have prognostic significance in patients with acute myeloid leukemia but not in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) are positive regulators of angiogenesis. Increased levels in urine, serum, plasma, or malignant tissue have been associated with an adverse prognosis in patients with solid tumors.

Hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone and highly active antiretroviral therapy for patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related burkitt lymphoma/leukemia

Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)‐associated lymphoma/leukemia have a poor prognosis and are frequently treated with low‐intensity therapy. The authors investigated the feasibility and efficacy of hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (hyper‐CVAD), a dose‐intensive chemotherapy regimen, in patients with AIDS‐associated Burkitt lymphoma/leukemia, as well as the possible impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in these patients.

Imatinib mesylate causes hypopigmentation in the skin

Imatinib mesylate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets the BCR‐ABL protein in CML, c‐kit (KIT) and platelet‐derived growth factor receptors. In clinical trials with imatinib mesylate, common side effects of nausea, emesis, diarrhea, periorbital edema, fluid retention, and myelosuppression have been documented.