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Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has significantly changed the survival of patients of all age categories. In our work, we have tried retrospectively to analyze a therapeutic response and toxicity of imatinib according to age of patients ( 60 years vs60 years). Patients have started treatment with imatinib in 2001-2013 in our department. The duration of treatment was at least 18 months.The whole group contains 103 patients (52 women, 51 men) with a median age at diagnosis of CML 55 years (range 19-88 years). The first group includes 68 the younger patients (31 women, 37 men) with a median age at diagnosis 43 years (range 19-59 years) and the second group 35 the elderly patients (21 women, 14 men) with a median age at diagnosis 70 years (range 61-86 years). Median imatinib dose in both groups was the same - 400 mg per day (range 200-600 mg).In the elderly patients we observed higher rates of hematological toxicities (p = 0.0059). After 12 months treatment, a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) was achieved in 90 % of younger patients and in 74 % of the elderly patients, respectively. Major molecular response (MMR) at 18 months treatment was achieved in 79 % of the younger group and in 63 % of the elderly group.The results represent in both groups very good therapeutic response independent of age of patients at the time of CML diagnosis.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is an example of a tumour disease, in which the discovery of its molecular principle resulted in the development of the specific targeted molecular treatment with the first representative being imatinib. The introduction of other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, nilotinib and dasatinib, into the clinical practice meant not only a revolutionary change in the treatment approach to CML but literally an epochal improvement of the prognosis and quality of life. The disease with an originally fatal prognosis in patients diagnosed in the chronic stage has changed into a disease with the expected survival rate median estimated to be more than 25 years.

In parallel with the increasing knowledge of the role played by the immune system in the control oftumourgrowth, the efforts to develop anti-cancer vaccines intensify. In the present time two highly efficient prophylactic vaccines against the virus-induced cancers are in use, but a rapid progress in the development of anti-cancer therapeutic vaccines can also be seen. It is conditioned by an increasing understanding of the biology of the tumor cells and the rapid progress in the field of immunology. Nevertheless, these developments are associated with a number of difficulties, among which the immunosuppressive activities of the tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment are the most important. On the example of chronic myeloid leukemia the author proposes a strategy for the development ofa therapeutic cancer vaccine.

Non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases are responsible for signal transduction during many physiologic cellular processes, including cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, cell shape, adhesion, motility and migration. Aberrant activity of protein tyrosine kinases (acquired as a result of chromosomal translocation or point mutation) has been implicated in the stimulation of cancer growth and progression, the induction of drug-resistance, tumour neovascularization, tissue invasion, extravasation and the formation of metastases. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors interfere with these pathophysiological circuits by blocking the signalling cascades triggered by the aberrantly activated protein tyrosine kinases (e.g. BCR-ABL1, FIP1L1-PDGFRA or ETV6-PDGFRB).Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib) now belong to established anti-cancer agents with clinical activity in patients with CML, Ph+ ALL, and myeloid neoplasms with overexpression of PDGFRA, PDGFRB and wild-type KIT. New generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g. dasatinib) with extended activity against SRC and EPH kinases belong to promising anti-cancer agents with documented preclinical activity in several solid tumours (e.g. prostate cancer).

Chronic myeloid leukemia has got an outstanding position among the other oncology diseases, particularly due to specific chromosomal abnormality called Philadelphia chromosome, its molecular consequence BCR/ABL fusion gene and its biologic product BCR/ABL tyrosinekinase, which is responsible for the leukemic transformation of the hematopoetic cells. We can see a real revolution in the treatment of the chronic myeloid leukemia in the last few years. The authors pay attention to the developement of the new drugs in the large historical consequences from the beginning in the 19th century (describing leukemia first time) to the introduction of the new small specific molecules into the clinical practice.

The text maps the changes in treatment results and costs for three haematological diseases; multiple myeloma; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic myeloid leukaemia. At the beginning of the 1990's, the alkeran-prednisone combination was the golden standard in the treatment of myeloma. In the mid 1990's, the treatment results in younger patients were dramatically improved by high-dose chemotherapy with autologous transplantation. The first decade of the new millennium has brought about even better results after the introduction of thalidomide in the initial treatment in patients not indicated for transplantation. Improvement is also expected in patients of a younger age group thanks to the combination of new drugs with autologous transplantation. A breakthrough in the treatment of patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma was the introduction in the treatment regimen of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous transplantation, and primarily the introduction of a new drug--a monoclonal antibody antiCD20, rituximab, in initial treatment. The golden standard for patients with chronic leukaemia in the early 1990's was hydroxyurea treatment. This was replaced by a new golden standard--interferon alpha, which was, in turn, replaced by the specific blocker of bcr-abl thyrosine kinase-imatinib. The text contains tables and charts showing the therapeutic benefit of the options mentioned above and the related costs.

Analyses of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) results are of high importance for decision-making on treatment strategy for patients with SCT as a possible therapeutic alternative. In this paper the Czech National Registry of SCT and Transplantation Centre in Pilsen present their joint retrospective analysis of the results of allogeneic SCT in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) performed in the Czech Republic from 1988 to spring 2005. 295 patients (179 men and 116 women) ranging in age from 6.9 to 59.5 years (median 37.3) underwent transplants. In most cases the donor was an HLA-identical sibling (164; 55.6%) or a voluntary unrelated donor from the register (110; 37.3%), in a minority of cases another relative of the patient (21; 7.1%). Myeloablative conditioning was used in 90% of patients. The source of hematopoietic stem cells was bone marrow in 57%, peripheral blood in 41% and combination of both in 2% of cases. 83.4% of patients underwent transplant in the chronic phase of the illness while 7.8% in the acceleration phase and 6.1% in the blastic phase respectively. The median interval from the diagnosis to SCT was 316 days. Median follow-up after SCT was 2 years. SCT was complicated by acute graft versus host disease of grade II-IV in 33.7% of patients and by chronic graft versus host disease in 36.3% of patients. Median survival was not reached, 18 (6.1%) of patients died due to the relapse of CML and the cause of 101 (34.2%) deaths was transplant-related. Significant trends were observed during the study period: SCT were performed more frequently in older patients, less than one year from the diagnosis, reduced-intensity conditioning was used more often and the source of hematopoietic stem cells was peripheral blood in the majority of patients (p = 0.188 -0.0001). Also, transplantation activity changed - the annual rate of SCT increased steadily until 1999, while there was no such an increase between 2000 and 2005. The use of peripheral stem cells was associated with chronic graft versus host disease (p = 0.007). In Cox multivariate analysis the EBMT risk score and the interval from the diagnosis to SCT were identified as independent factors in patient survival. An "ideal" patient, aged under 30, undergoing transplant in the chronic phase of CML within one year since the diagnosis after 2000 had a survival probability of 88% for three years after SCT. It can be concluded that results of allogeneic SCT in CML in the Czech Republic reflect current global trends, are comparable with results achieved in other countries and show significant improvements.

Chronic myeloid leukemia in blast phase (BP) is resistant to chemotherapy and majority of patients die within 6 months. Inhibitor Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase imatinib mesylate dramatically improved outcome of patients in chronic phase (CP) and is also effective in BP of CML. The prognosis of patients treated with imatinib in BP is worse than in CP. High platelet counts are often observed at diagnosis or in the subsequent course of the CML in about 25% of patients. Thrombohemorrhagic complications associated with the thrombocythemia may be serious. Anagrelide selectively reduces circulating platelets and is used in treatment of thrombocythemia in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Efficacy and safety of combination imatinib mesylate with anagrelide was demonstrated in chronic and accelerated phase of CML. No study about the use of imatinib with anagrelide in BP has been found. 51-year-old white man with CML presented in blast phase was followed for 4 years. Imatinib mesylate in dose of 600 mg p.o. qd. was administered after the failure of initial chemotherapy. The patient was treated with imatinib for 45 months, 14.5 months in combination with anagrelide. Partial hematologic response in duration of 33 months was induced by imatinib, cytogenetic response was not reached. Imatinib-resistant thrombocythemia was controlled with anagrelide in dose of 0.5-1 mg p.o. qd. No thrombohemorrhagic complications were observed. The patient tolerated the combination of imatinib and anagrelide well and long-term survival gave him the chance of treatment with the new tyrosin kinase inhibitor (dasatinib).

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by an abnormal fusion gene BCR-ABL. BCR-ABL encodes a constitutively active Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, which is required and sufficient for cellular transformation. Bcr-Abl is, therefore, an ideal target for pharmacotherapy. Imatinib Mesylate (Glivec) is a specific inhibitor of Bcr-Abl kinase. Imatinib shows high efficiency and low toxicity in treatment of CML patients. The main problem of imatinib treatment is the development of resistance. The mechanisms of resistance can be divided into two groups. The first group is characterized by reactivation of Bcr-Abl kinase in spite of continual imatinib presence. This can be caused by BCR-ABL amplification, overexpression or mutation in Abl kinase domain. Imatinib might not even reach the target Bcr-Abl protein (possible causes: drug efflux or imatinib binding to alpha1-acid glycoprotein). In the second group of resistance mechanisms, the Bcr-Abl kinase is inhibited but the resistance is maintained by other signal transducers (e.g. Src kinases). Standard cytogenetics as well as assay evaluating the phosphorylation status of Bcr-Abl substrate and/or sequencing of Abl kinase transcript can be used to test the mechanism of resistance. Treatment of patients can be re-evaluated on the basis of the status of IM resistance.

Molecular biology methods based on reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) are able to detect the presence of BCR-ABL transcripts in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In this study we present our experience with monitoring of residual disease using real-time PCR with hybridization probes detection in patients treated with imatinib mesylate and in collected peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC).We measured the level of BCR-ABL transcripts in peripheral blood cells of 27 subjects before and in the course of the imatinib treatment. The median of relative quantity of BCR-ABL in the blood before imatinib therapy was 2.55%. The number of the transcripts in 23 imatinib-sensitive subjects decreased to 0.02% in 6 months. After 12 months of the treatment the BCR-ABL median was 0.005%. Subsequent levels fluctuated between values below the detection limit (DL, 0.001%) and 0.005%. Three patients were primarily resistant to imatinib with the BCR-ABL range of 0.13%-11.7% during the treatment. One subject showed marks of molecular relapse after 18 months of the treatment. Only two of 16 filgrastim-stimulated patients had BCR-ABL levels in the blood and in collected PBPC below DL. In other subjects BCR-ABL transcripts were determined within the measurable range of RT-PCR.Taking into account prognostic importance, the measurement of BCR-ABL transcripts is an effective approach to monitoring of residual CML kinetics. Evaluation of BCR-ABL levels in collected PBPC can complete information on quality of the cells in potential autotransplants, and choose subsequent therapeutic protocols and patient prognosis.

Because of the presence of unique antigens, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) represents an appealing target for immunotherapy. The progress achieved in the fields of gene therapy, tumour immunology and vaccinology offers a wide spectrum of methods that could be utilized for the development of therapeutic vaccines against CML. Experience obtained in several clinical studies with peptide-based vaccines have made it clear that it is possible to induce specific immune reactivity; however, its clinical efficacy has been low if any. Studies in mouse systems, which are under way, should be helpful in defining the optimal strategy for immunizing human subjects against bcr-abl positive cells. The author adduces some advantages, but also the limitations, of animal models for this purpose. He also comments on the possibility that the bcr-abl-based therapeutic vaccines might be found ineffective and proposes procedures how to deal with the problem.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the presence of BCR-ABL fusion gene resulting from the reciprocal chromosome translocation t(9;22)(q34;q 11), karyotypically detected as Ph chromosome. BCR-ABL gene was proved to play the principal role in CML pathogenesis. It is a hallmark of CML used in diagnostics and monitoring of the response to the therapy. The most sensitive method of detecting BCR-ABL aberration is RT-PCR which is able to find a single in leukemic cell between 10(6) normal leukocytes. Monitoring of BCR-ABL transcript level by quantitative RT-PCR is of the high prognostic value. High or increasing BCR-ABL transcript number signalizes bad response to treatment and a bad prognosis. On the contrary RT-PCR negativity, low level, or decreasing BCR-ABL transcript number denotes good response to treatment and good prognosis. Q-RT-PCR can detect changes in disease status several weeks or even months earlier than other methods. In 1994 the Q-RT-PCR was introduced at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Prague and was used for early detection of relapse after transplantation. At present it is used in all patients with CML for monitoring of response to the treatment. We have confirmed that this precise, sensitive and non-invasive method is of the principal importance for monitoring of disease status in CML patients.

Among novel promising approaches to anticancer therapy belongs the targeting inhibition of signal transduction. This review outlines present-day experiences with imatinib (Glivec), a potent inhibitor of the tyrosine kinases bcr-abl, c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor kinase. Due to inhibition of bcr-abl tyroxine kinase, imatinib has rapidly become the standard therapy for chronic myelocytic leukemia; inhibition of c-kit receptor explains its effectivity in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Another known target of imatinib is tyrosine kinase of PDGFR, which is activated in numerous malignancies, particularly in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Discovery of the novel fusion gene in hypereosinophilic syndrome (FIPILI-PFGFRA, whose product is an imatinib sensitive protein kinase) permitted to treat successfully this event. Possible combination of imatinib with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and other key signal transduction inhibitors are mentioned.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has been described in the middle of the 19th century. It took further 100 years to the time of the discovery of the first cytotoxic drugs. Ph1 chromosome, the cytogenetic hallmark of CML, has been described in 1960, however, the majority of important discoveries on the molecular level has been done in the 1980s' and later. The chromosomal translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) is absolutely crucial for CML and leads to the chimeric gene and protein BCR-ABL. The ABL protein possesses the tyrosine kinase activity, which is deregulated in the BCR-ABL protein, leading to the cascade of further pathological processes in the leukemic cells and causing eventually their malignant transformation. In the 1990s, the drug STI 571 has been synthesized, which is a potent inhibitor of the ABL tyrosine kinase activity. The data so far published concerning clinical effects of STI 571 are remarkable and very encouraging. The drug seems to be very safe and has only limited toxicity. It must be emphasized, however, that STI 571 has been clinically tested only since 1998. Moreover, from the mechanisms of action it is clear, that STI 571 influences the secondary, not the primary cause of the CML. Nevertheless, it is without any doubts that the development of new anti-cancer drugs will be done on this non-cytotoxic principle.

The authors compare the results of allogenic bone marrow transplantations of relatives in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia during the initial years of the transplantation programme 1991-1995 (group 1, 15 patients) with results achieved in 1996-1998 (group 2, 30 patients) and evaluate the effect of changes concerning supportive treatment and new diagnostic methods. The age median of group 1 was 35 years, the median age of group 2 46 years. In other parameters the groups were comparable. In 1991-1995 a high transplantation mortality by the 100th day was recorded (40% as compared with 17%) and a higher incidence of stage III and IV of the acute reaction of the graft against the host (GVHD) in group 1 (20% vs. 6%). In group 2 there was a higher transplantation mortality after day 100 associated with a more frequent chronic GVHD (0% vs. 16.5%). The total survival is insignificantly better in group 2 (60% in group 1 survive with a median of 58 months follow up and 67% of group 2 with a median follow up of 33 months). Group 2 comprises however older patients. In the improved early transplantation mortality participated new methods, a change of the posttransplantation immunosuppression, experience with care of transplanted patients and better collaboration with other medical disciplines. The authors did not observe a substantial effect of changes in the basic supportive treatment on results of transplantation. Late transplantation mortality associated in particular with a higher incidence of chronic GVHD could be in the authors' opinion reduced by longer administration of immunosuppression after transplantation, in particular in older patients.

Recent findings of the role of the immunity in eradication of residual tumour tissue after autologous transplantation rejection leading to extensive studies on T-cell mediated specific antitumor effects or nonspecific NL-cell mediated anticancer effects. We have evaluated on the methods of adoptive cell therapy--IL-2 activation of autologous graft in the preclinical conditions. In laboratory conditions we have manipulated with autologous grafts form patients suffering with chronic myelocytic leukemia and patients suffering with multiple myeloma.Autologous graft was activated with IL-2 during 24-hours cultivation period in X-Vivo 10 medium with heparine, glutamine and Dnase. Quality of grafts after cultivation, contamination and activation of T and NK cell were evaluated. No significant differences between IL-2 activated graft and control were found. Results of autologous graft quality (CD34+, CFU-GM) were comparable with already published results. Quality of final product allowed starting of clinical experimental trials.We have proved the possibility to use IL-2 activated autologous graft in the clinical conditions. Based on our preclinical results experimental clinical trials have been initiated in patients suffering from chronic myelocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Masquerade syndromes comprise a number of diseases imitating as to their clinical picture inflammation of the eye. These diseases comprise also malignant tumours. The authors present three patients where intraocular tumours (lymphoma, leukaemia, melanoma of the choroid) reminded of chronic uveitis.

The outcomes of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) performed at the Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion from April 1988 to December 1994 in 31 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia are presented. Age of the patients range from 18 to 49 years, median 34 years. Male:female ratio was 1.58:1. The conditioning regimen consisted of Cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (TBI) or Busulfan and Cyclophosphamide. The results are evaluated as of January 1, 1995. Nineteen patients (61.3%) are alive, 12 patients (38.7%) died. The causes of death are discussed. The median time of follow up all patients is 10.4 months, range 0.3-81.5. The median time of follow up of surviving patients is 21.8 months, range 2.5-81.5. Probability of 2 years survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis is 58 +/- 10%. Of the 24 transplanted in the first chronic phase, 18 patients are alive. Of the 7 transplanted in advanced phase of the disease, 1 patient is alive. Of the 27 patients, who received bone marrow from an HLA identical sibling, 19 are alive. Of the 4 patients who received bone marrow from other donor than an HLA identical sibling, none is alive. Acute GvHD III.-IV. grade developed in 5 patients (16.1%), moderate and severe chronic GvHD developed in 11 patients (31.5%). Cytogenetic relapse was diagnosed in 1 patient, hematological relapse in 2 patients. Karnofsky scores of patients surviving after BMT range from 30% to 100%, median 90%.

The examination of the presence of Ph chromosome and of the fused gene BCR-ABL in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is significant for the precise diagnosis and in some cases for the prognosis of the disease. We examined peripheral blood for the presence of BCR-ABL fused gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in eight patients with CML consecutively cytogenetically studied before and after the bone marrow transplantation and in two patients treated with interferon. Southern blot analysis was performed before BMT in two patients and the molecular rearrangement of Ph chromosome was found. In all cases our results have proved that cytogenetic and recombinant DNA evaluations confirm each other. Due to the high sensitivity of PCR technique the minimal residual leukemia can be detected.

In 193 patients with Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) Sokal's calculation formulae prognosticating initial risk status were applied, using the computer program PHCML. The aim of this study was to the prognostic reproducibility of these prognostic staging systems in our patient population. Our results confirm the previous conclusions that prognostic discrimination is possible at the time of diagnosis of CML but in our patients with poorer prognosis the stratification seems to be more accurate. No significant advantage was achieved when we prognosticated our patients younger than 46 years using the formula recommended by Sokal et al. specifically for younger patients. We analyzed different criteria when segregating patients in groups with better or poorer prognosis. We found that the coefficient of the patient's relative risk as the boundary, was 1.9 our patient's group contrary to 1.2 in Sokal's studies.