Chronic granulocytic leukemia. Review of 536 cases

The Western Cancer Study Group (WCSG) retrospectively reviewed chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) diagnosed during 1960 to 1974 from 22 institutions. In 100 cases, patients had positive findings for the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph'+). In 426 cases karyotyping was not done (Ph'?). Ten patients had no Ph' chromosome (Ph'-). The ten Ph'- patients ranged in age from 8 to 85 years and in survival from 1 to more than 125 months. Their small number and heterogeneity precluded statistical analysis, but this notable heterogeneity of the Ph'- group may well be typical. Busulfan prolonged survival in the Ph'+ and Ph'? patients. Females and younger patients tolerated their disease better than males and older patients. Survival studies without reference to the Ph' status, treatment, age at diagnosis, and sex are probably not valid.