Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, idiopathic myelofibrosis and chronic myelogenous leukemia have been collectively termed the myeloproliferative disorders due to similarities in their clinical presentation. With the exception of chronic myelogenous leukemia, which is characterized by the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome, the myeloproliferative disorders display no consistent cytogenetic abnormalities. Hence, the diagnosis of Polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis to date relies on clinical criteria. However, several molecular aberrations have been described, which can be used as molecular markers for the diagnosis of these clinical entities. This review outlines the diagnostic assays developed and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the following markers: (1) Endogenous Erythroid Colonies, (2) Clonality, (3) Reduced c-Mpl protein expression and (4) PRV-1 mRNA over expression.

Imatinib is a molecularly targeted therapy that inhibits the oncogenic fusion protein BCR-ABL, the tyrosine kinase involved in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Selective inhibition of BCR-ABL activity by imatinib has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of CML, particularly in chronic phase. Some patients, however, primarily those with advanced disease, are either refractory to imatinib or eventually relapse. Relapse with imatinib frequently depends not only on re-emergence of BCR-ABL kinase activity but may also indicate BCR-ABL-independent disease progression not amenable to imatinib inhibition. Results from phase 2/3 trials suggest that rates of resistance and relapse correlate with the stage of disease and with the monitoring parameters – hematologic, cytogenetic and molecular response. These observations and more recent trials with imatinib, combined with insights provided by an increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of resistance, have established the rationale for strategies to avoid and overcome imatinib resistance in the management of CML patients. To prevent resistance, early diagnosis and prompt treatment with appropriate initial dosing is essential. Management of resistance may include therapeutic strategies such as dose escalation to achieve individual optimal levels, combination therapy, as well as treatment interruption.Leukemia advance online publication, 24 June 2004; doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2403426

Atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia (aCML) is a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorder that usually occurs in older adults. Here we report a pediatric patient with aCML and a t(5;12)(q33;p13) with a corresponding fusion gene ETV6-PDGFRB. Because the PDGFRB tyrosine kinase is one of the known targets of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, this patient achieved cytogenetic and molecular remission with treatment with imatinib mesylate (formerly STI571; now Gleevec in the United States and Glivec in Europe). This case illustrates one of many myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorders that can be treated with this particular tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate administration has become standard treatment for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Although the safety profile of imatinib is favorable, Grade > or = 3 neutropenia (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria) occurs in 35-45% of patients with CML in chronic phase who receive standard-dose imatinib. Myelosuppression results in treatment interruptions, which may compromise responses to imatinib. The authors investigated the ability of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim) to reverse imatinib-associated neutropenia, thereby allowing for more continuous imatinib administration. METHODS: Thirteen patients with chronic-phase CML and Grade > or = 3, imatinib-induced neutropenia were treated with filgrastim. Treatment with filgrastim was initiated after a median of 22 months from the start of imatinib. Eleven patients received filgrastim 5 microg/kg 1-3 times weekly, and 2 patients received filgrastim 5 microg/kg daily; doses were titrated to maintain an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > or = 10(9)/L. RESULTS: Seven of 11 patients (64%) who began treatment with an ANC < 1.5 x 10(9)/L had responses (i.e., their ANC improved to > or = 2 x 10(9)/L within 21 days); the other 4 patients experienced slower recovery but were able to continue receiving imatinib uninterrupted. Before filgrastim administration was initiated, patients did not receive imatinib (due to neutropenia-related treatment interruptions) for an average of 21% of the total time since the start of imatinib. This figure decreased to 6% after the start of filgrastim treatment (P = 0.0008). Before filgrastim treatment was initiated, only one patient had achieved a major (partial) cytogenetic response. After the start of filgrastim treatment, five patients had major cytogenetic responses (including two complete responses). CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that filgrastim may overcome imatinib-associated neutropenia and allow improved delivery of imatinib. Some patients may experience improvements in their responses to therapy as a result.

The myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) are chronic malignant conditions originating from the clonal expansion of a multipotential hematopoietic stem cell. These diseases include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythenia, atypical chronic myeloid leukemia, idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), agnogenic myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis, and others. Receptor tyrosine kinases-the platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) and c-Kit-and their respective ligands have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MPDs. For example, a constitutively activated PDGFR fusion tyrosine kinase (FIP1L1-PDGFRA) was identified in some patients with HES, a disease characterized by sustained overproduction of eosinophils that has been classified by the World Health Organization as a chronic subtype of the MPDs. Imatinib is a selective inhibitor of PDGFRs, c-Kit, Abl and Arg protein-tyrosine kinases, as well as Bcr-Abl, the oncogenic tyrosine kinase that causes chronic myeloid leukemia. The efficacy of imatinib in treating HES, systemic mast cell disease, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia associated with PDGFRbeta fusion genes, and (to a lesser extent) PV and idiopathic myelofibrosis was reviewed from institutional experience and a review of the literature. In 3 studies that involved 11 patients with PV, 10 patients had reductions in phlebotomy with imatinib. Eight studies of 42 patients with HES indicated that 70% achieved complete hematologic remissions with imatinib. Four studies of 6 patients with MPD indicated responses with imatinib in 5 patients. Insight into the molecular pathogenesis of MPDs will improve the definitions of different disease categories and suggests that signal transduction inhibition is likely to be an increasingly important treatment option in the future.

The most immediate issues that will have a major impact on the long-term survival of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia is the optimal use of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec((R)), Novartis) and the development of effective therapies for those patients who are intolerant of, or become resistant to, optimal doses of this agent. Of the multiple new agents that are currently being developed for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, most are being investigated in patients who have developed resistance to imatinib, which is a confounding factor in itself. The mechanisms of action of novel agents are diverse and they may have a variably synergistic therapeutic relationship with imatinib. The complete blockade of the intracellular pathways that are triggered by Bcr-Abl, combined with successful reversal of apoptotic and/or angiogenic abnormalities in chronic myeloid leukemia, may well lead to a cure for the majority of patients.

Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is characterized by an acute onset of erythematous plaques, fever, and leukocytosis. This syndrome has been reported to be associated with leukemia including chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Sweet’s syndrome seen in patients with leukemia is usually associated with active and/or refractory disease. Imatinib Mesylate (STI-571, Gleevec) is widely used for therapy of CML. In this case report, CML cell infiltration of the skin was documented by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis in a patient with chronic-phase CML on Imatinib Mesylate (STI-571, Gleevec), who was at the time in molecular remission.