Mechanisms of antileukemic action and possible ways of resistance development in glucocorticoid therapy of acute leukemia.

This literature review concerns mechanism of antileukemic action and possib le ways of arising resistance in using glucocorticoids (GC) in therapy of a cute leukemia. Blast cells sensitivity to hormonal therapy and GC ability t o induce their death explain frequent administration of steroids in therapy of hematological malignancies in humans. However, the response to GC is li mited by primary or secondary resistance which is registered in 20% of untr eated ALL and 80% of patients with AML. Cytostatic action of GC is closely related to biological properties of the cell. It is inferred that antileuke mic effect of GC depends rather on cell ability to recognize GC action as p roapoptotic signal than on their properties.