Generally, the BCR-ABL protein indicates the presence of the Philadelphia Chromosome, which is the marker for CML. We would need more information (such as information from FISH and cytogenetics) to know how much leukemia is present. I suspect your son's doctor is suggesting that once the immunosuppressant medications are stopped, the donor cells may complete the business of killing off any remaining leukemia cells. Is he still on immunosuppressant drugs (steroids, Cyclosporin, Prograf, Cellcept)? These drugs treat graft versus host disease (GVHD, an unwanted consequence from transplant when the donor cells see the recipient's organs as foreign and attack them), but the drugs also can dampen the graft versus leukemia effect (when the donor cells see the leukemia cells as foreign and attack them -- which you DO want). These drugs inhibit the immune system which would explain why your son has had so many trips to the hospital for infection. My husband had an unrelated transplant in September, 2003 and is currently in the hospital with pneumonia. He is in the process of tapering the last immunosuppressant.
Best of luck. Warm regards, Kelly --- In [email protected], "crazymom18951" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I don't understand why the CML protein is still in my sons blood when > his unrelated transplant was in March 2003. He is still trying to get > off his medicines. He has had MANY trips back to the hospital from > infections. The doctor found the CML protein in his blood a year ago > and put him back on Gleevec. When i ask if the transplant worked the > doctor says he needs to get off all his meds. I just want to know > what it means if the protein is in his blood does he still have CML? ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Help save the life of a child. Support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's 'Thanks & Giving.' http://us.click.yahoo.com/0iazvD/5WnJAA/xGEGAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
