The Northern Italy Leukemia Group

Northern Italy Simply the prevailing geographical location of most of our activities. Hence an incontrovertible presence in the Group signature, to allow immediate recognition and distinction from other similar national and international organizations. As you see in the site front page, our country can be arbitrarily divided into three separate regions (Northern, Central, Southern). For sake of clarity, we named ourselves after the Group had been operating together since 1991 in Northern Italy only (see below). This signifies only to acknowledge our roots and the fact that, as things stand, the numerical majority of adhering Centers (and of recruited patients) still belong to the same area. We have no affiliation at all with any other private or public organization using a similar or slightly different terminology to indicate anything else. We are as much aware that some important Centers are from Central/Southern Italy as the Centers themselves are of the facts herein reviewed. Changes may be introduced in the future as necessary.

Leukemia Obviously the final target. Intended as an improved therapeutic outcome, that is our major goal. And mainly in adult acute leukemias, again in the Group’s early tradition, without excluding the rest. At the present, the Group devotes most of its energy to the development of effective risk-oriented strategies for both adult AML and ALL. While the details can be found in the dedicated website pages, we try to stick to some general reflections and rules. Progress in this field is not evident in the short-term, but will undoubtedly occur. This is a territory where success can be hard to measure for years, where achievements are slow and losses too fast. This requires a strong will to continue, an enduring guidance, and a sustained effort to promote cyclically new clinical studies and to educate young scientists alike.

Group A long-lasting interest in acute leukemia therapy led a first bunch of 5 Hematology Centers from Northern Italy to form a consortium for adult ALL in the spring of 1991. Eventually, three more protocols were launched between 1996 and 2000, along with the first AML protocol. Currently, the Group consists of 18 Centers recruiting (in the year 2004) 9.6 and 5.6 new AML and ALL patients per month, respectively. There are now several treatment protocols activated for a number of different conditions, and the first two randomized trials are expected to start soon. A Group meeting is held once-twice a year, and Group activities and results are presented regularly at the most important international meetings devoted to Hematology or Leukemia. The Group is actively involved in the initiatives of the recently formed European Leukemia Network.

Posted by R Bassan, 19/09/2005