title: Imatinib mesylate therapy in newly diagnosed patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia: high incidence of early complete and major cytogenetic responses.
abstract: Fifty patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in early chronic phase received imatinib mesylate, 400 mg orally daily. After a median follow-up of 9 months, 49 patients (98%) achieved a complete hematologic response and 45 patients (90%) achieved a major cytogenetic response, complete in 36 patients (72%). Compared with similar patients who received interferon-alpha with or without hydroxyurea or other interferon-alpha combination regimens, those receiving imatinib mesylate had higher incidences of complete and major (Ph < 35%) cytogenetic responses at 3 months (34% and 74% versus 1%-4% and 9%-24%, respectively), 6 months (52% and 80% versus 3%-7% and 11%-28%, respectively), and 9 months (60% and 77% versus 5%-11% and 14%-30%, respectively; P <.001). Competitive quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) studies at 9 months showed a median QPCR value (ratio of BCR-ABL/ABL transcripts x 100) of 0.59% overall and of 0.24% (range, 0.001%-29.5%) for complete cytogenetic response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston 77030, USA. hkantarj@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Hagop M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garcia-Manero
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faderl
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeha
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Letvak
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bochinski
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arlinghaus
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talpaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001549:Benzamides; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015994:Incidence; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl