title: Response to imatinib in patients who relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: We studied 128 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) relapsing after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Disease at the time of treatment with Imatinib was in chronic phase (CP) in 51 patients, accelerated phase (AP) in 31 and blastic crisis (BC) in 46. Of the 51 patients in CP, 14 were in cytogenetic and two in molecular relapses. The median interval between relapse and Imatinib therapy was 5 months (0-65). A total of 50 patients had failed treatment with donor lymphocyte infusions prior to Imatinib. The overall hemato-logical response rate was 84% (98% for patients relapsing in CP). The complete cytogenetic response (CCR) was 58% for patients in CP, 48% for AP and 22% for patients in BC. Complete molecular responses were obtained in 25 patients (26%), of whom 21 were in CP or AP. With a median follow-up of 9 months, the estimated 2-year survival for CP, AP and BC patients was 100, 86 and 12%, respectively. Out of 79 evaluable patients, 45 (57%) achieved full donor and 11 (14%) mixed chimerism after Imatinib. We conclude that Imatinib has significant activity against CML in relapse after allogeneic SCT. Durable cytogenetic and molecular remissions are obtainable in patients in CP.
authors.affiliation: Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olavarria
authors.forename: O G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ottmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deininger
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bandini
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitek
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michallet
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Siegert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wassmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niederwieser
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate