Journal
HAEMATOLOGICA-THE HEMATOLOGY JOURNAL
Volume 95, Issue 1, Pages 87-95Publisher
FERRATA STORTI FOUNDATION
DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2009.011221
Keywords
acute lymphoblastic leukemia; Philadelphia chromosome; BCR-ABL; imatinib; intensive chemotherapy; stem cell transplantation; imatinib maintenance
Categories
Funding
- Jose Carreras Leukemia Foundation [P-EF/08]
- Red Tematica de Investigacion Cooperativa en Cancer [RD06/0020/1056]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background Imatinib, given concurrently or alternating with chemotherapy, has improved the response and survival of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) but relapses are still frequent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and results of giving imatinib concurrently with intensive chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and post-transplant imatinib maintenance therapy in patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL. Design and Methods This was a phase II study of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL given standard chemotherapy, together with imatinib (400 mg/day) until stem cell transplantation, followed by imatinib maintenance therapy for all patients regardless of the molecular status of the disease. Results Of the 30 patients included, 27 (90%) achieved complete remission, one was resistant to treatment and two died during induction therapy. The percentages of major and complete molecular responses were 86% and 21% after induction, and 81% and 65% after consolidation, respectively. Similar results were observed assessing minimal residual disease by Sow cytometry. Of the 27 patients who achieved complete remission, 21 underwent stem cell transplantation (16 allogeneic, 5 autologous). Imatinib (400 mg/day) could be administered after transplantation for a median of 3.9 months in 12 patients, although it was interrupted in 10 patients (in 2 cases because of side effects of the drug). Nine patients relapsed, four before and five after stem cell transplantation and eight patients died of transplant-related causes. With a median follow-up of 4.1 years, the probabilities (95% CI) of disease-free and overall survival were 30% (15% to 45%) and 30% (16% to 45%), respectively. Conclusions These results confirm that imatinib is an effective first-line treatment for adult Ph+ ALL when given concurrently with chemotherapy, making stem cell transplantation feasible in a high proportion of patients. However, post-transplantation imatinib administration was limited, mainly because of transplantation-derived complications rather than drug-specific toxicity.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available