Risk and early cytogenetic response to imatinib and interferon in chronic myeloid leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
We compared the early cytogenetic response (CgR) to a combination of imatinib mesylate (Glivec, Novartis Pharma, Basel, Switzerland) and a pegylated form of human recombinant interferon-alpha2b (pegIFN-alpha2b, PegIntron, Schering Plough, Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA) with the relative risk, either according to Sokal's or Euro scoring systems.


METHODS
Seventy-seven patients with early chronic phase, previously untreated, Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) received a combination of imatinib mesylate (400 mg/day) and pegIFN-alpha2b (3 consecutive cohorts treated with 50, 100 or 150 mg/weekly). Fifty-seven patients have completed the first 6 months of treatment and are evaluable for CgR.


RESULTS
After 6 months of treatment, the overall major CgR rate was 89% and 90% in low risk patients (Sokal's and Euro, respectively), 76 and 59% in intermediate risk and 23% and 17% in high risk patients. These differences were significant (p=0.0001 for Sokal and 0.001 for e).


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, these data suggest that the early CgR rate to a imatinib mesylate-based regimen is significantly risk-related.
Rosti
Gianantonio
G
L. and A. Seràgnoli Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna University, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. grosti@kaiser.alma.unibo.it
Trabacchi
Elena
E
Bassi
Simona
S
Bonifazi
Francesca
F
de Vivo
Antonio
A
Martinelli
Giovanni
G
Alberti
Daniele
D
Fincato
Gianluca
G
Saglio
Giuseppe
G
Baccarani
Michele
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001549:Benzamides; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a