Quality of life on imatinib.
Imatinib (Gleevec), a highly effective specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrates a better side effect profile than interferon-alpha (IFN), which impairs patients' quality of life (QoL). This phase III international study evaluated QoL outcomes in 1,106 newly diagnosed patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who were randomized to receive either imatinib 400 mg daily or IFN up to 5 MU/m(2)/d with cytarabine (Ara-C) 20 mg/m(2)/d added for 10 days every month (IFN + LDAC). Crossover to the other treatment arm was permitted due to a lack of efficacy or treatment intolerance. QoL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Biologic Response Modifiers (FACT-BRM) at baseline, monthly for 6 months and then at months 9, 12, and 18. The Trial Outcome Index (TOI; a composite endpoint of physical/functional/treatment-specific subscales) was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints measured were social/family well-being (SFWB) and emotional well-being (EWB). QoL was analyzed for the first 18 months of treatment using mixed effects growth curve models. The primary analyses were intention-to-treat (ITT); secondary analyses incorporated crossover as a time-dependent covariate. A total of 1,049 patients completed at least one QoL assessment. Two hundred sixty-one patients (50%) crossed over from IFN to imatinib and 11 (2%) crossed over from imatinib to IFN. There was a significant decline in TOI scores for the IFN treatment arm compared with preservation of baseline TOI scores in the imatinib arm (P <.001, ITT). Mean social/family and EWB scores were 22.8 and 19.5, respectively, for imatinib and 21.6 and 17.6, respectively, for IFN (P <.001, ITT). After crossing over from IFN to imatinib, patients experienced a significant (P <.001) increase in TOI scores. Imatinib offers clear QoL advantages over IFN as first-line treatment of chronic-phase CML. In addition, patients who crossed over to imatinib reported higher QoL than those who remained on IFN. Semin Hematol 40(suppl 2):31-36.
Hahn
Elizabeth A
EA
Center on Outcomes, Research and Education, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.
Glendenning
G Alastair
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D003561:Cytarabine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate