title: Spontaneous reversion from blast to chronic phase after withdrawal of imatinib mesylate in a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
abstract: Imatinib mesylate, a specific inhibitor of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase, has been very effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase with high rates of hematological and cytogenetic remissions. Resistance to therapy can develop and transformation to blast crisis may occur, particularly in patients without a cytogenetic response. We report a case of a patient with CML treated in chronic phase who developed blast crisis; withdrawal of imatinib mesylate resulted in spontaneous reversion to chronic phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Box 428, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Nina Shih
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001549:Benzamides; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D006918:Hydroxyurea