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"Life Blood: Stories of Leukaemia Patients and their Doctor" is a memoir written by Professor David Marks, an eminent haematologist. The book focuses on his long career and the experiences of his patients with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) and other blood cancers. It highlights the challenges faced by haematology teams and patients in their day-to-day work, including complex chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, and Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) pathways. The memoir also discusses the progress made in treatments, particularly in ALL, and reflects on the author's personal experiences and frustrations working in the National Health Service (NHS). Overall, the book provides insights into the realities of a career in haematology and emphasizes the importance of clinical trials and research in improving patient care. [Extracted from the article]

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine Leukemia and Lymphoma: Molecular and Therapeutic Insights. Edited by Michael G. Kharas, Ross L. Levine, and Ari M. Melnick. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers poetry criticism of the poem "Happy New Year" by Marina Tsvetaeva. The article discusses Tsvetaeva's correspondence with Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke, his battle with leukemia, and 20th-century Russian poetry. Tsvetaeva's cosmogony, view of Rilke, and sense of national belonging are also explored.

Ishitsuka K, Shirahashi A, Iwao Y, Shishime M, Takamatsu Y, Takatsuka Y, Utsunomiya A, Suzumiya J, Hara S, Tamura K. Bone marrow necrosis in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia during re-induction therapy with arsenic trioxide. Eur J Haematol 2004: 72: 280–284. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2004. Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) therapy at a daily dose of 0.15 mg/kg was given to a 60-yr-old Japanese male with refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia. White blood cell (WBC) of 6.6 × 103/ μl increased to 134 × 103/ μl following the administration of As2O3. Daily hydroxyurea (HU), and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) were added on days 7 and 19, respectively. Both HU and 6-MP were discontinued on day 28, when WBC declined to 54.0 × 103/ μl. He developed unexplained fever and profound cytopenia requiring multiple blood products transfusions. Bone marrow examination on day 42 revealed massive necrosis. Pharmacokinetics confirmed a mean maximum plasma arsenic concentration ( Cpmax) and a half-life time ( t1/2) of 6.9 μ m and 3.2 h, respectively, in the therapeutic range. This is the first case of bone marrow necrosis after standard-dose As2O3 therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews several aspects of autotransplants in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Preventing relapse in the recipient; Eradicating leukemia in the autograft; Results of autotransplants; Future directions.

Reviews the book 'Life and Death on 10 West,' by Eric Lax.

Three patient stories illuminate the "malignant golem" of leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibbs SDJ, Herbert KE, McCormack C, Seymour JF, Prince HM. Alemtuzumab: effective monotherapy for simultaneous B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and Sézary syndrome.Eur J Haematol 2004: 73: 447–449.© Blackwell Munksgaard 2004.The simultaneous presentation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a very rare occurrence where optimal treatment is unknown. We present the case of a 65-yr-old man who was successfully treated with alemtuzumab monotherapy for both disorders, but at a cost of severe infectious morbidity and prolonged pancytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghanima W, Kahrs J, Dahl TG III, Tjonnfjord G. Sustained cytogenetic response after discontinuation of imatinib mesylate in a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia. Eur J Haematol 2004: 72: 441–443. © Blackwell Munksgaard 2004. A 58-yr-old woman was diagnosed with Ph+ chronic myeloid leukaemia in May 2001. She was initially treated with hydroxyurea and subsequently with interferon- α (IFN- α). Imatinib mesylate was started in April 2002 after failure of IFN- α to induce a cytogenetic response. The patient remained on treatment with imatinib mesylate for 3 months during which she suffered daily fever resulting in discontinuation of the treatment. Response evaluation performed shortly after discontinuing imatinib mesylate revealed a complete cytogenetic remission and a substantial molecular response. Fifteen months later, she was still enjoying a major cytogenetic response. This case illustrates that a short course of imatinib mesylate may result in a sustained haematological and cytogenetic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the need to balance the risks and benefits of clinical trials and its implications for the future of gene therapy. Partial success in early attempts to treat adenosine deaminase-deficient severe combined immunodeficiencies (ADA-SCID); Development of leukemia-like conditions in two of ten children treated for ADA-SCID in France; Uncertainty about the effects of tighter regulations.

A woman recollects her frightening confrontation with leukemia and the ways in which it changed her outlook on life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews the book 'Understanding Leukemia,' by Cynthia P. Margolies and Kenneth B. McCredie.

Reviews the book 'Angela Ambrosia,' by Ray Errol Fox.

The article reviews the book "USA Today Health Reports: Diseases and Disorders: Leukemia" by Connie Goldsmith.

The article reviews the book "Regine's Book: A Teen Girl's Last Words," by Regine Stokke.

The article reviews several books including "Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life, and Everything in Between," by Theresa Brown, "The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be Me," by Bruce Feiler and "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer," by Siddhartha Mukherjee.

The article reviews the book "Tell Me Something Real," by Calla Devlin.

This article reviews the book "Acute Myelogenous Leukemia," edited by Judith E. Karp.

Reviews the book 'Childhood Leukaemia--The Facts,' by John S. Lilleyman.

Reviews the book "No Safe Place: Toxic Waste, Leukemia, and Community Action," by Phil Brown and Edwin J. Mikkelsen.