Obesity & CML

May 31, 2009

Researchers from the M. D. Cancer Center have reported that obesity and

weight gain increase the risk of developing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The

details of this case-control study were published in the May, 2009 issue of

Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

CML occurs in males more often than in females and in Caucasians more often than

in African Americans. Because the average age at diagnosis is older than 67

years, it is suspected that unknown environmental exposure over a long period of

time is required to cause CML. There are no clear hereditary factors associated

with CML. Identical twins of patients with CML are at no greater risk of

developing CML than other siblings. One study has found that a specific HLA

type, DR4, is associated with a lower incidence of CML, however, researchers

have not yet identified the reason for this decrease. There is some evidence

that exposure to agricultural chemicals and radiation exposure may increase the

risk of developing CML. Thus, the major causes of CML remain unknown, making it

impossible to institute preventative measures. (More at website posted below:)

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Researchers from the M. D. Cancer Center have reported that Sprycel®

(dasatinib) treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have

loss of a major cytogentetic response to Gleevec® (imatinib) results in better

outcomes than waiting for loss of complete hematalogic remission to institute

therapy with Sprycel. The details of this study were published early online on

April 28, 2009 in Cancer.

These data suggest that Sprycel should be instituted as soon as a loss of

response following Gleevec is detected. These data also suggest that patients

who fail to have an initial major cytogenetic response to Gleevec should be

treated with Sprycel.

FOCI (free of charge for information) LOL

Lottie

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