Definition
In the medical field, the term "leukemia" refers to a complex blood neoplasm, in which there is an unregulated proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells, found in the bone marrow. Myeloid leukemia is distinguished (alteration of the synthesis of granulocytes and monocytes - white blood cells - red blood cells and platelets), with a lymphoid form (which damages lymphocytes).
Causes
Being a tumor, the causes responsible for leukemia are still unresolved questions; however, some risk factors have been identified that, although not directly related to the onset of blood cancer, exponentially increase the chances of contracting it: some types of anemia, chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy, smoking, inhalation of toxic substances (eg . heavy metals), ionizing radiation, Down syndrome.
Symptoms
The symptoms vary depending on the severity and the form in which the leukemia occurs; sometimes the disease remains silent (asymptomatic) for a long time. In the acute forms, the symptoms are violent: alteration of the body temperature, asthenia, pain in the bones, weight reduction, abdominal pain, headache, tendency to bleeding, spleno / hepatomegaly.
- Complications: severe anemia, bleeding (due to thrombocytopenia) and infections (due to lack of white blood cells)
Information on Leukemia - Drugs for the Treatment of Leukemia is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Leukemia - Drugs for the Treatment of Leukemia.
drugs
In the context of leukemia, the choice of a treatment rather than another depends on the type of cancer, the cells involved, the degree of tumor progression and the patient's age. Conventional chemotherapy is a therapeutic option widely used for the treatment of leukemia, although some patients are treated simultaneously also with radiotherapy and / or biological therapy. In severe cases, stem cell transplantation may be a viable alternative.
- Daunorubicin (eg. Daunoblastina, DaunoXome): particularly indicated for the treatment of acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemia. The indicated dosage is 45 mg / m2, to be administered by intravenous infusion of 2-5 minutes, once a day on 1-2-3 days the first cycle and 1-2 in the following cycles. Reduce the dose if the patient is over sixty. Consult your doctor. Often this drug is associated with other chemotherapy drugs such as cytarabine (eg Depocyte). As an alternative to ladaunorubicin it is possible to administer idarubicin (eg Zavedos).
- Cladribine (eg Litak): indicated for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia (caused by hyper-production of B-lymphocytes). Indicatively, the recommended dose is 0.14 mg / kg, intravenously, to be taken once a day for 5 days. Use the drug with caution, especially in patients over the age of 65.
- Interferon Alfa-2b (eg Intron-A): this drug, obtained exclusively by medical prescription, belongs to the pharmaceutical class of interferons and is prescribed both for the treatment of some forms of hepatitis, and for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and cells hairy. The dose, always indicative, is the following: 2-20 million IU / m2 of body surface, three times a week, spacing one day of treatment with one of rest. The treatment should generally be continued for 6 months, or until the symptoms are remitted without signs of serious toxicity.
- Nilotinib (eg Tasigna): useful for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. The anticancer drug (protein kinase inhibitor) is not the first choice, but is used when the other drugs do not generate benefits in the patient. It is recommended to take the drug in the form of 200 mg tablets, twice a day, every 12 hours, preferably on an empty stomach, two hours before a meal.
- Dasatinib (eg sprycel): this drug, like the previous one, is a protein kinase inhibitor and can be found in the form of 20-50-70-100 mg tablets. Its administration for the acute lymphoblastic form and for the chronic myeloid form of leukemia is recommended: start with 100 mg of drug once a day; change the dosage during the illness, under strict medical supervision.
- Rituximab (eg MabThera): in addition to treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, this active ingredient (monoclonal antibody) is indicated for the treatment of a form of leukemia called lymphoblastic lymphoma. It is recommended to take the drug by IV infusion, at a dose of 375 mg / m2 (initial dose) + 5 doses of 500 mg / m2. It is recommended to always administer an antihistamine and a painkiller before each dose of the drug, to avoid allergic reactions and reduce pain.
- Imatinib (eg Glivec): indicated for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic lymphoblastic leukemia. It is recommended to take the drug orally (50-100-400 mg tablets) at a dose of 50-400 mg once or twice a day, during a meal. Do not exceed 800 mg per day. Consult your doctor: the dosage just described is indicative.
- Clofarabine (eg Evoltra): the drug (cytotoxic) should be taken by intravenous infusion through a drip into a vein. It is one of the most widely used drugs to treat leukemia in children: 52 mg / m2 for a two-hour infusion, for 5 days. Repeat the administration every 2-6 weeks.
- Arsenic trioxide (eg Trisenox): the drug is given by infusion in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The product is available as a concentrate to be reconstructed in solution (1mg / ml) and is taken by infusion of 0.15 mg / kg every day, until symptoms improve. After the first 50 days of treatment, the patient must stop the treatment, even in the absence of benefits: the treatment must be interrupted for 21-28 days and given again once a day for 5 days, followed by 2 days of rest. Continue with this line for 5 weeks.
- Histamine dichlorohydrate (eg Ceplene): available as a 0.5 mg / 0.5 ml injectable solution, the drug is often used to treat acute myeloid leukemia in combination with interleukin-2. Take the drug twice daily, subcutaneously (at the level of the abdomen or thigh) at a dose of 0.5 mg, 1-3 minutes after the injection of interleukin-2. Repeat the administration for three weeks, followed by a further three weeks of rest. Repeat this pattern for three cycles. Subsequently, take the drug for another 7 cycles, each consisting of 21 days of care followed by 56 days of interval.
- Chlorambucil (eg. Leukeran): the dosage of this drug varies from 0.1 to 0.2 mg / kg. It should be taken by mouth every day for 3-6 weeks. The dosage can be changed by the doctor during the illness. The administration of this active ingredient is indicated for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
