Cancer and leukemia group B leukemia correlative science committee: major accomplishments and future directions

The Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) Leukemia Correlative Science Committee (LCSC) has a remarkable history of outstanding productivity and has been at the cutting edge of correlative science for adult leukemia for almost 25 years. Its work, initially focused on the use of immunophenotyping for diagnosis and prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, has, for the last 15 years, focused on the clinical use of cytogenetic and molecular genetic markers in acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia as well as in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Numerous CALGB LCSC studies have had a major effect on the way we currently diagnose, predict outcome, select appropriate treatment, document complete remission, and monitor residual disease in adults with acute leukemia. In part as a result of the work of the CALGB LCSC, we are increasingly moving toward molecularly targeted therapy in acute and chronic leukemias. In this report, we briefly review those contributions from the CALGB LCSC that have had, or are likely to have in the future, a major effect on how we currently manage leukemia and outline directions of ongoing and future research conducted by the CALGB LCSC.