Leukemia

Abstract

This transcript examines some of the major discoveries and developments in the management of leukaemia over the past 30 years, such as the discovery of the alkylating agents (chlorambucil and busulphan) at London’s Chester Beatty Research Institute, exchange transfusion and the exciting development of combined chemotherapy (daunorubicin and cytosine arabinoside) that led to more than 60 per cent of adults with acute myelogenous leukaemia achieving complete remission. The introduction of clinical trials and issues related to funding were also discussed. Those who contributed included Professor Daniel Catovsky, Professor David Galton, Professor John Goldman (Chair), Professor Frank Hayhoe, Professor Victor Hoffbrand, Professor Humphrey Kay, Professor John Lilleyman, Professor Ian MacLennan, Dr Gordon Piller, Dr Rosemary Shannon, and Dr Eve Wiltshaw. Christie D A, Tansey E M. (eds) (2003) Leukaemia, Wellcome Witnesses to Twentieth Century Medicine, vol. 15. London: The Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL.