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Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Treatment
Hydroxyurea is the standard therapy for patients with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disease, combined with supportive care to manage symptoms.1 Hematopoietic growth factors, particularly erythropoietin, may be beneficial for some patients. No other treatment except allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been demonstrated to improve the natural history of these diseases, although relapse and graft-versus-host disease are not uncommon occurrences.1,2
Course
Patients with CMML have a median survival of 12 to 24 months.3 Progression to acute leukemia occurs in approximately 15% to 20% of patients.
Emerging Therapies for the Treatment of Myelodysplastic / Myeloproliferative Diseases
Several therapeutic approaches that utilize a molecular targeted approach to the treatment of myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative diseases are currently under investigation.
One such approach involves use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that target the fusion protein that transforms eosinophilic cells or their stem cells in patients with FIP1L1-PDGFRA-positive disease. This approach shows considerable promise in the management of patients with these frequently fatal disorders. Clinical trials are underway.
Clinical Trials
For U.S. Residents Only
References:
- Cortes J. CMML: a biologically distinct myeloproliferative disease. Curr Hematol Rep. 2003;2:202-208.
- Magnusson MK, Meade KE, Nakamura R, Barrett J, Dunbar CE. Activity of STI571 in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with a platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor fusion oncogene. Blood. 2002;100:1088-1091.
- National Cancer Institute. Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Diseases (PDQ®): Treatment. Health Professional Version. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/mds-mpd/healthprofessional/allpages. Accessed April 24, 2006.
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