PROGNOSIS OF CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA - STUDIES FROM THE BARCELONA GROUP

Individual and multicenter efforts have facilitated the recognition of different parameters with prognostic value at presentation of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Interest is currently focused on the prognost ic evaluation of features obtained from molecular analysis, and isolat ion of data with evalutive predictive value. The site of breakpoint wi thin the M-BCR has been suggested as a prognostic factor in some studi es. A recent analysis from our group failed to demonstrate differences in either duration of chronic phase or survival between patients with 5' and 3' breakpoints. We have confirmed in a sequential study that a decrease in the expression of some myeloid differentiation antigens o f the blood granulocytes can be a prognostic indicator along CML evolu tion. Our more recent study, separating blast crises on immunological and molecular grounds, confirms lymphoid cases as a distinct subgroup and shows a trend for an association between megakaryoblastic blast cr isis and 3' location of the breakpoint.