Is it downhill from here? Eliminating leukemic stem cells and curing chronic myeloid leukemia

Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Nov 1;17(21):6605-7. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-2240. Epub 2011 Sep 26.

Abstract

Patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia who respond to imatinib have a rapid initial decrease in BCR-ABL transcript levels (α), followed by a slow decline (β). The rate of β decrease is consistent with declining leukemic stem cells and may predict which patients may safely discontinue therapy.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Benzamides
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Piperazines / pharmacology*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl