CML Advocates Network

Absence of cells with the Philadelphia Chromosome in the bone marrow, usually detected by cytogenetics or FISH diagnostics

The blood cell count has returned to normal, and tests don’t show any immature white blood cells. Also, the spleen has returned to a normal size if it was enlarged.

Between 1-35% of all cells still have the Philadelphia chromosome

A type of deep remission in CML where BCR-ABL is however still detectable by PCR

also called: Chronic Myelogeneous Leukemia
A chronic disease of the blood and bone marrow that results from a transformation of a stem cell.

A certain change in chromosomes (on chromosome 22) found in 95% of patients who have CML. The Philadelphia chromosome results from a mutation that involves the fusion of parts of chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 (the bcr-abl fusion gene)

Disease with a worsening course

The first treatment given after a disease has been diagnosed. Patients who do not respond to or do not tolerate this treatment, will receive second-line therapy.

Also called induction therapy or primary treatment.

The accumulation of fluid in the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs

Relating to blood or the formation of blood

Also called: hematological

The earliest phase of CML development.

Multiplication of cells

Proportion of patients (in percent) in whom a specific therapy led to a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of a disease.

An undesired or unintended occurrence or side effect that has a temporal relationship with the use of a medical treatment or procedure in a clinical study. An adverse event does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the study treatment.

Also called: AE

The third phase of development of CML after chronic and accelerated phases. It is characterized by the presence of increasing numbers of immature blood cells ("blasts") in the blood and bone marrow.

With interruptions, at intervals

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer by destroying or slowing the growth of fast-growing cancer cells. The term chemotherapy also includes treatment with antibiotics.

Enlargement of the spleen. A number of diseases which are related to the immune system is associated with splenomegaly. This includes leukemias. A normal-sized spleen cannot be palpated (felt) during the physical examination of the abdomen, except in slender people. An enlarged spleen is usually palpable during careful physical examination.

Worsening of a cancer

Adverse effects of a treatment:, side effects limit the maximum tolerable dose in particular during chemotherapy.

The ability to withstand the effects of a drug, e.g. resistance of cancer cells to a specific therapy.

Willingness of a patient to reliably adhere to treatment measures and follow medical instructions.

A chromosome is a structure of DNA that carries the genetic makeup in the nucleus of the cell. Chromosomes contain giant chain molecules of DNA, coiled and folded as aggregates with specific proteins. Chromosomes ensure that during cell division the hereditary information is evenly distributed to the daughter cells. Normal human body cells have 46 chromosomes. Cancer cells can have a different number and/or structure of chromosomes.

Derived or transferred from the same individual (e.g. autologous bone marrow transplant), where donor and recipient are the same person.

Being genetically different although belonging to or obtained from the same species, e.g. allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Derived or transferred from the same individual (e.g. autologous bone marrow transplant), where donor and recipient are the same person.

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into many different types of cell in the body including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) as well as platelets (thrombocytes). Stem cells are formed in bone marrow and also in blood.
Stem cells usually come from two main sources: embryos and adult tissue. Embryonic stem cells can multiply and differentiate and ultimately form the entire organism whereas adult stem cells are generally thought to have limited ability to differentiate based on their tissue of origin. They are able to regenerate cells from their original organ.

In medicine, a reason to use a certain diagnostic test, therapeutic procedure or medication. The opposite of indication is contraindication.

The number of new cases of a specific disease occurring during a certain period, e.g. one year

The study of the structure, composition and function of the body tissues

Trade name: Sprycel, development name: BMS-354825, inhibits BCR-ABL and SRC tyrosine kinases. Authorized for marketing in the EU since 2006 for the treatment of CML and Ph+ALL.
Other names: BMS-354825|BMS354825|Sprycel

Capacity to produce offspring (to conceive or induce conception)

The incidence of a disease in a population.

The quality of being poisonous; harm resulting from drugs, e.g. side effects of chemotherapy.

Imatinib, trade name Glivec/Gleevec, development name STI-571, a first-generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibition. Authorized for marketing since 2002 for the treatment of CML and Ph-positive ALL.
Other names: Gleevec|Glivec

Targeted towards overcoming disease and promoting recovery. The opposite is palliative.

Binding site for signaling substances; e.g. hormone receptor

The abnormal gene that characterizes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, which is a fusion of the BCR gene of chromosome 9 and the ABL gene of chromosome 22

Long-lasting, slowly developping

A sign of disease or disorder (Greek; accident, happening)

An immature white blood cell that normally represents an early phase of the development process of a blood stem cell in the bone marrow

Of sudden onset, severe; of short duration.

Part of the term oncology (study and science dealing with cancer).

Abbreviated "Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization", a specific diagnostic test to detect genetic changes in chromosomes, like the BCR-ABL gene

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, a class of drugs that block an enzyme involved in the mechanism of division of cells

Abbreviation for Complete Cytogenetic Response, which is the absence of cells with the Philadelphia Chromosome in the bone marrow, usually detected by cytogenetics or FISH diagnostics

A unit of information present as DNA; a gene usually contains the blueprint for a protein.

Oral, pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, also called Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
A chronic disease of the blood and bone marrow that results from a transformation of a stem cell.

Bone Marrow Transplant

Stem Cell Transplant

American Society of Hematology

Human Leukocyte Antigen - the proteins on the surface of all cells that must be matched for bone/stem cell transplants to avoid immune reactions of the donor's immune system against the body of the recipient

Polymerase Chain Reaction, a very sensitive diagnostic test that allows the detection of certain genes (DNA) on a very sensitive level. PCR can detect up to one single gene in about 1 million genes.

Major Molecular Response (MMR), a level of response to CML therapy where the BCR-ABL ratio is equal or below 0,1%

Complete molecular response means undetectable residual disease on a certain molecular test. Given "completeness" of response depends also on the sensitivity of the CML diagnostics used, this term has been replaced my MR4, MR4.5, which states a molecular remission with a reduction of residual disease below a given level.

Abbreviation for "Philadelphia-Chromosome-positive", meaning the presence of a certain change in chromosomes (on chromosome 22) found in 95% of patients who have CML. The Philadelphia chromosome results from a mutation that involves the fusion of parts of chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 (the bcr-abl fusion gene).

Abbreviation for Complete Hematologic Response. The blood cell count has returned to normal, and tests don’t show any immature white blood cells. Also, the spleen has returned to a normal size if it was enlarged.

ß-glucuronidase; an enzyme

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Twice a day (Latin: bis in die)

Acute promyelocytic leukemia; a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)

Absence of cells with the Philadelphia Chromosome in the bone marrow, usually detected by cytogenetics or FISH diagnostics

The blood cell count has returned to normal, and tests don’t show any immature white blood cells. Also, the spleen has returned to a normal size if it was enlarged.

Between 1-35% of all cells still have the Philadelphia chromosome

A type of deep remission in CML where BCR-ABL is however still detectable by PCR

also called: Chronic Myelogeneous Leukemia
A chronic disease of the blood and bone marrow that results from a transformation of a stem cell.

A certain change in chromosomes (on chromosome 22) found in 95% of patients who have CML. The Philadelphia chromosome results from a mutation that involves the fusion of parts of chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 (the bcr-abl fusion gene)

Disease with a worsening course

The first treatment given after a disease has been diagnosed. Patients who do not respond to or do not tolerate this treatment, will receive second-line therapy.

Also called induction therapy or primary treatment.

The accumulation of fluid in the fluid-filled space that surrounds the lungs

Relating to blood or the formation of blood

Also called: hematological

The earliest phase of CML development.

Multiplication of cells

Proportion of patients (in percent) in whom a specific therapy led to a decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of a disease.

An undesired or unintended occurrence or side effect that has a temporal relationship with the use of a medical treatment or procedure in a clinical study. An adverse event does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the study treatment.

Also called: AE

The third phase of development of CML after chronic and accelerated phases. It is characterized by the presence of increasing numbers of immature blood cells ("blasts") in the blood and bone marrow.

With interruptions, at intervals

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer by destroying or slowing the growth of fast-growing cancer cells. The term chemotherapy also includes treatment with antibiotics.

Enlargement of the spleen. A number of diseases which are related to the immune system is associated with splenomegaly. This includes leukemias. A normal-sized spleen cannot be palpated (felt) during the physical examination of the abdomen, except in slender people. An enlarged spleen is usually palpable during careful physical examination.

Worsening of a cancer

Adverse effects of a treatment:, side effects limit the maximum tolerable dose in particular during chemotherapy.

The ability to withstand the effects of a drug, e.g. resistance of cancer cells to a specific therapy.

Willingness of a patient to reliably adhere to treatment measures and follow medical instructions.

A chromosome is a structure of DNA that carries the genetic makeup in the nucleus of the cell. Chromosomes contain giant chain molecules of DNA, coiled and folded as aggregates with specific proteins. Chromosomes ensure that during cell division the hereditary information is evenly distributed to the daughter cells. Normal human body cells have 46 chromosomes. Cancer cells can have a different number and/or structure of chromosomes.

Derived or transferred from the same individual (e.g. autologous bone marrow transplant), where donor and recipient are the same person.

Being genetically different although belonging to or obtained from the same species, e.g. allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Derived or transferred from the same individual (e.g. autologous bone marrow transplant), where donor and recipient are the same person.

Stem cells are cells that have the potential to develop into many different types of cell in the body including red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes) as well as platelets (thrombocytes). Stem cells are formed in bone marrow and also in blood.
Stem cells usually come from two main sources: embryos and adult tissue. Embryonic stem cells can multiply and differentiate and ultimately form the entire organism whereas adult stem cells are generally thought to have limited ability to differentiate based on their tissue of origin. They are able to regenerate cells from their original organ.

In medicine, a reason to use a certain diagnostic test, therapeutic procedure or medication. The opposite of indication is contraindication.

The number of new cases of a specific disease occurring during a certain period, e.g. one year

The study of the structure, composition and function of the body tissues

Trade name: Sprycel, development name: BMS-354825, inhibits BCR-ABL and SRC tyrosine kinases. Authorized for marketing in the EU since 2006 for the treatment of CML and Ph+ALL.
Other names: BMS-354825|BMS354825|Sprycel

Capacity to produce offspring (to conceive or induce conception)

The incidence of a disease in a population.

The quality of being poisonous; harm resulting from drugs, e.g. side effects of chemotherapy.

Imatinib, trade name Glivec/Gleevec, development name STI-571, a first-generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibition. Authorized for marketing since 2002 for the treatment of CML and Ph-positive ALL.
Other names: Gleevec|Glivec

Targeted towards overcoming disease and promoting recovery. The opposite is palliative.

Binding site for signaling substances; e.g. hormone receptor

The abnormal gene that characterizes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, which is a fusion of the BCR gene of chromosome 9 and the ABL gene of chromosome 22

Long-lasting, slowly developping

A sign of disease or disorder (Greek; accident, happening)

An immature white blood cell that normally represents an early phase of the development process of a blood stem cell in the bone marrow

Of sudden onset, severe; of short duration.

Part of the term oncology (study and science dealing with cancer).

Abbreviated "Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization", a specific diagnostic test to detect genetic changes in chromosomes, like the BCR-ABL gene

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, a class of drugs that block an enzyme involved in the mechanism of division of cells

Abbreviation for Complete Cytogenetic Response, which is the absence of cells with the Philadelphia Chromosome in the bone marrow, usually detected by cytogenetics or FISH diagnostics

A unit of information present as DNA; a gene usually contains the blueprint for a protein.

Oral, pertaining to the mouth; taken through or applied in the mouth.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, also called Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
A chronic disease of the blood and bone marrow that results from a transformation of a stem cell.

Bone Marrow Transplant

Stem Cell Transplant

American Society of Hematology

Human Leukocyte Antigen - the proteins on the surface of all cells that must be matched for bone/stem cell transplants to avoid immune reactions of the donor's immune system against the body of the recipient

Polymerase Chain Reaction, a very sensitive diagnostic test that allows the detection of certain genes (DNA) on a very sensitive level. PCR can detect up to one single gene in about 1 million genes.

Major Molecular Response (MMR), a level of response to CML therapy where the BCR-ABL ratio is equal or below 0,1%

Complete molecular response means undetectable residual disease on a certain molecular test. Given "completeness" of response depends also on the sensitivity of the CML diagnostics used, this term has been replaced my MR4, MR4.5, which states a molecular remission with a reduction of residual disease below a given level.

Abbreviation for "Philadelphia-Chromosome-positive", meaning the presence of a certain change in chromosomes (on chromosome 22) found in 95% of patients who have CML. The Philadelphia chromosome results from a mutation that involves the fusion of parts of chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 (the bcr-abl fusion gene).

Abbreviation for Complete Hematologic Response. The blood cell count has returned to normal, and tests don’t show any immature white blood cells. Also, the spleen has returned to a normal size if it was enlarged.

ß-glucuronidase; an enzyme

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Twice a day (Latin: bis in die)

Acute promyelocytic leukemia; a subtype of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)