When do CML cells form in your body?

[Guest guest]

I remember someone asking a week or so ago how long CML was in your body before

detection. I found this message in my files, taken from page 2237 of Wintrobe's

Clinical Hematology and I thought it might be helpful to anyone who might want

this information.

" Studies have indicated that approximately 6 years elapse from the time of

the first CML cell to the arrival of symptoms of CML, such as fatigue, weight

loss, etc. Once the WBC begins to rise, it takes abut 19 months (range 7-24

months) for the WBC to reach 100,000. The spleen is seldom enlarged until the

WBC i9s above 40,000 and symptoms usually appear when the WBC comes between

30,000 and 90,000. "

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This is also an update on CML trials that will be discontinued.

Vertex and Merck said they suspended trials involving MK-0457, also known as

VX-680, pending a full analysis of efficacy and safety data after preliminary

data showed that one patient experienced QTc prolongation. MK-0457 is the lead

Aurora kinase inhibitor drug from the companies' development collaboration.

QTc prolongation is a disorder of the heart's electrical system that can result

in an irregular heartbeat and is associated with increased risk of sudden

cardiac death. The drug is being studied in a Phase 2 trial in patients with

treatment-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia, or Philadelphia

chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The companies also suspended a

newly launched Phase 1 trial of MK-0457 in combination with dasatinib in those

same patient groups. MK-0457 is also being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 trial

in patients with advanced leukemias.

Vertex and Merck said patients currently enrolled in trials may continue to be

treated with MK-0457, with additional monitoring for QTc prolongation. The

companies also said they discontinued development of their Aurora kinase

inhibitor MK-6592, or VX-667, after the investigational drug failed to meet

pharmacokinetic objectives in a Phase 1 trial. (Reporting by Baertlein;

editing by Braden Reddall and Andre Grenon)

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN2063920820071121

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July 29, 2008. A new study shows that positron emission tomography, known as

PET scans, may tell doctors how well a leukemia patient is responding after just

one day of chemotherapy and sparing them from a week of chemotherapy.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSCOL96338720080729

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June 23, 2008. Studies in mice showed giving Gleevec or imatinib, a drug made

by Novartis AG, significantly reduced bleeding in the brain associated with the

clot-busting drug known as tissue plasminogen activator or tPA.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN2139269820080623

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June 20, 2008. Leukemia patients may be able to avoid developing resistance to

the drug Gleevec -- or imatinib, a once-a-day pill made by Novartis -- through a

mathematical formula that predicts when they should receive an immune-boosting

vaccine, researchers said on Thursday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssPharmaceuticals%20-%20Generic%20 & %20Specialty\

/idUSL2082285020080620?pageNumber=2 & virtualBrandChannel=0

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June 10, 2008. Woman speaks before Senate Finance Committe on high health care

for patients with leukemia.

The panel heard from 53-year-old , a woman with leukemia who has

racked up more than $200,000 in medical bills and now must tap into retirement

savings to help fund her care.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN10358373

Blessings,

Lottie