Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) is a useful agent in the salvage treatment of adults with relapsed/refractory Philadelphia positive acute leukemias.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute leukemias have a markedly poor prognosis when treated with conventional chemotherapy alone. Even with intensive treatment such as allogeneic transplant, a large proportion of patients relapse. We describe here four cases of relapsed/refractory Ph+ acute leukemias who were treated with Imatinib Mesylate (Gleevec) as monotherapy. Significant clinical and molecular responses were observed in these patients, which allowed us to deliver highly intensive treatments such as second allogeneic stem cell transplant and matched unrelated transplant in these patients. Gleevec may prove to be a useful agent in the salvage therapy of such patients.
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margeret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. vikas.gupta@uhn.on.ca
V
V
Gupta
S
S
Kamel-Reid
M D
MD
Minden
J H
JH
Lipton
J
J
Brandwein
H A
HA
Messner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001215:Asparaginase / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001549:Benzamides; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003630:Daunorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D001549:Benzamides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D003561:Cytarabine; D019259:Lamivudine; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D001215:Asparaginase; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate; D003630:Daunorubicin