PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Citation
M. Hallek et al., PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA, Leukemia, 11, 1997, pp. 4-13
Citations number
89
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Hematology,Oncology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0887-6924
Volume
11
Year of publication
1997
Supplement
2
Pages
4 - 13
Database
ISI
SICI code
0887-6924(1997)11:<4:PFICL>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
The clinical course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) shows a mark ed heterogeneity, with a median survival ranging from 2 to 20 years at different disease stages. This unpredictable course has inspired clin ical hematologists and oncologists to search for parameters which pred ict survival and disease progression. This effort resulted in differen t staging systems, two of which, the Rai and Binet staging systems, ha ve become most popular because of their simplicity. They identify thre e major groups of patients with different survival. Since patients at early stages have a relatively good prognosis, only advanced stages us ed to be treated by chemotherapy with alkyling agents. With the advent of potentially curative, but more aggressive treatment options for CL L, additional prognostic criteria are required to predict the outcome more precisely, in particular in young patients with early disease. It is the intent of this review to summarize the current knowledge of bo th established and new prognostic factors in CLL, some of which might help to define risk-adapted treatment protocols in the near future.