Imatinib (IM) treatment efficacy in 116 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in different studies was analyzed. Patient group was non‑selective with prospective enrollment. The study was based on real‑time patient’s register allows to treatment quality control due to clinical results. Cytogenetic response (CO), hematological data, and overall survival (OS) were used as criteria for the therapy efficacy. After 12 month of treatment in 46.4 % of CML patients in early chronic phase complete CO (CCO) was obtained, in 33.3 % — in the late chronic phase, and in 13.3 % — in accelerated phase. Deficit of daily imatinib dose and intervals in treatment schedule were made a negative influence on CO quality. The median of OS was 120 months.

The article presents a literature review on the mechanisms of anemia in patients with hematologic malignancies and a classification of chronic anemia and methods of its correction. It describes in detail the mechanism of action, indications and side effects of rembinant erythropoietin (rEPO). It gives anemia treatment algorithms with rEPO in patients with chronic blood malignancies. The analysis of rEPO efficacy is shown in anemia treatment in patients with various types of cancer. It presents the recommendations of ASCO/ASH for the use of rEPO in various patients categories.

The monitoring of treatment efficacy in patients with diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is generally performed by common computed tomography (CT). However, CT cannot distinguish between a real and residual tissue mass and in addition cannot be very useful in assessment of early response. 18F‑FDG Positron‑emission tomography (PET) has high prognostic implications at treatment completion but is limited as an early predictor. We present the results of a retrospective study where we have evaluated predictive value of initial and interim‑PET
(I‑PET) with 18F‑FLT on clinical outcome.

Methods. 39 patients were evaluated retrospectively with 18F‑FLT PET before treatment and interim 18F‑FLT PET after 1 cycles of chemotherapy. PET was performed 40−60 minutes after injection of 270−340 MBq of 18F‑FLT. Maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax ) were calculated on a lesion. Response was assessed according to protocol during and in the end of therapy.

Results. All lymphoma lesions identified by a reference method (18F‑FDG PET/CT or CT) showed increased focal tracer uptake of 18F‑FLT. Initial mean SUVmax was significantly higher in patients who showed progressive disease and partial response (SUVmax = 9.5 ± 3.2) than in
patients who achieved complete response (SUVmax = 6.3 ± 1.6) (p = 0.018). PFS for positive and negative patients after interim 18F‑FLT PET was 85.1 % and 35.7 %, respectively (р < 0.05).

Conclusion. High initial 18F‑FLT uptake is a negative treatment response predictor in patients with DLBCL. Positive I‑PET with 18F‑FLT is a negative PFS predictor compare to patients with negative I‑PET.

Mutation status of the heavy chain variable region genes has long been known as an important factor in long‑term prognosis in B‑cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‑CLL). A more detailed study of the gene sequences of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgVH) led to the discovery of stereotyped antigen receptors (SAR) — receptors that have the same set of VH‑, D‑ and JH‑genes used. Cells with SARs have been found almost in a quarter of all B‑CLL cases. This phenomenon is not observed in other lymphatic tumors. In our study, we confirmed and extended the basic observations concerning the repertoire of IgVH in B‑CLL. Differences in the B‑CLL IgVH gene repertoirs between Russia, Вelarus and other countries are also analysed and discussed.

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a heterogeneous group of diseases, whose clinical significance is increased due to large number of cancer
patients, patients with aplastic anemia, congenital or acquired immunity defects. Morbidity and mortality due to fungal infection remain high, and the available diagnostic methods do not always allow timely detect and isolate infection pathogen. Microbiological and histological examination of biopsy material is the “gold standard” of IFI diagnostic, but in practice it is often associated with high risk for patients. Reliable nonculture methods of early IFI detection needed to improve current diagnostic and allowing an earlier decision of specific antifungal therapy. This article presents the advantages and limitations of one of these tests. In recent years, many articles and reviews about circulating (1→3)β-D-glucan (BDG) detection (major cell wall component of most pathogenic fungi) has appeared in the available literature. Despite that this test has a high diagnostic value, to recommend it for routine use in children with febrile neutropenia is premature. This test is less useful in making timely decision about diagnosis and start of antifungal therapy because of moderate sensitivity and specificity, the lack of evaluation criteria in children, late results (if detected in reference laboratory) and cost. BDG detection results can be interpreted only in conjunction with clinical course and data of routine laboratory and radiological methods.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, life‑threatening clonal hematological disorder caused by an acquired mutation in the phosphatidylinositol glucan (PIG)-A gene. PNH is characterized by chronic intravascular hemolysis, marrow failure, thrombophilia and other severe clinical syndromes. Until recently, the treatment of PNH has been symptomatic with blood transfusions, anticoagulation and supplementation with folic acid or iron. The only potentially curative treatment is allogeneic stem cell transplantation, but this has severe complications with high mortality rates. A new targeted treatment strategy is the inhibition of the terminal complement cascade with anti‑C5 monoclonal antibody (eculizumab). Eculizumab has shown significant efficacy in controlling of intravascular hemolysis resulting in improving quality of life and survival.

The article describes characteristics of two different etiology groups of deep human mycosis — extremely dangerous endemic deep mycoses (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, blastomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, penicilliosis due to Penicillium marneffei) and opportunistic deep mycosis (candidiasis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis). Information on fungal pathogens and antifungal agents is presented. The own results of cultural studies obtained during pneumomycosis diagnosis in patients with tuberculosis are shown.