MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA IN LYMPHOID BLAST-TRANSFORMATION

Background and Methods. We designed a chemotherapy schedule similar to that used in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia for the manageme nt of patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid l eukaemia in lymphoid blast transformation. It includes the use of inte nsive systemic chemotherapy and intrathecal methotrexate followed by ' maintenance' chemotherapy for 2 years or allogeneic bone marrow transp lantation. Results and Conclusions. Of the four patients treated with this schedule, two survive at 30 and 36 months from transformation res pectively. The overall median survival is 19 months. A coordinated app roach to this relatively rare clinical problem may be useful.