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Imatinib mesylate is a selective inhibitor of the bcr/abl, c-kit and PDGF receptor tyrosine kinases. Its ocular toxicity is little known with mild periorbital oedema being the most commonly reported side effect. We here describe our experience on ocular complications in imatinib treated Ph+ CML patients, which consisted of a wide spectrum of adverse effects ranging from periobital oedema to serious adverse events such as glaucoma.

Canine non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is considered to be a good animal model for its human counterpart; nevertheless, comparative data on neo-angiogenesis are completely lacking. The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 in lymphoma-affected dogs. Circulating levels of VEGF and both MMP 2 and 9 activities significantly correlate with the WHO sub-stage b prognostic factor; moreover, VEGF at admission have an independent influence on the length of the disease free interval. As in humans, serum VEGF concentration and most likely also MMPs plasma activity have prognostic value in canine NHL spontaneous model.

We report on our experience relating to 62 patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) aged less than 50 years, seen at our Institution and conservatively treated from July 1983 to December 2000. Patients demographics and clinical features at diagnosis were analysed for their prognostic value on survival and on risk of transformation to acute leukaemia. The median age at diagnosis was 43 years (range 21-50). According to FAB criteria there were 30 patients with refractory anaemia (RA), 3 with refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), 18 with refractory anaemia with excess of blasts (RAEB), 6 with refractory anaemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEB-t) and 5 with chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML). Fifty patients had evaluable cytogenetic analysis: the most frequent karyotypic change was trisomy of chromosome 8 (10%), followed by monosomy 7 (6%); partial chromosome deletions and translocations were also common abnormalities, occurring on the whole in 16% of patients. At a median follow-up of 15 months 19 patients (31%) progressed to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). From univariate analysis we identified some features, which appeared to be predictive of outcome and risk of transformation to AML. Age above 40 years (p = 0.002) and high risk according to IPSS score (p = 0.002) were found to be predictive for a shorter survival; FAB grouping (p = 0.0001), percentage > 5% of blasts in the bone marrow (p = 0.001) and high risk by IPSS score (p = 0.0003) were found to be predictive for a higher risk of transformation to AML. Presenting features in young MDS patients may identify subjects at higher risk of unfavourable outcome.