ABSTRACT

The standard methods for establishing the diagnosis and prognosis of acute leukemias and lymphomas are cytomorphology and cytochemistry in combination with multiparameter immunophenotyping. Gene expression profiling has been extensively used for tumor classification and is on the way to add important information to predict response to therapy as well as for outcome in leukemia and lymphoma patients. L. A. McLean et al. intended to define specific gene expression profiles in chronic myeloid leukemia patients all treated with imatinib. One highlight to establish the use of gene expression profiling to define new targets in leukemia was the detection of ZAP70 to be expressed in a large proportion of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The microarray innovations in leukemia study is a cooperation of the European Leukemia Network together with Roche Molecular Systems. Models for the development of new targets in leukemia and lymphoma should be adapted to large-scale clinical trials and have to focus in detail on new medications tested.