title: Molecular response to imatinib in late chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Imatinib is a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor that binds to ABL proteins and induces cytogenetic remissions in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In these patients measuring response by molecular techniques is clearly required. We determined the cytogenetic and molecular response (CgR, MR) to imatinib in 191 patients with late chronic-phase Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) CML, previously treated with interferon alpha. MR was assessed with real-time quantitative (TaqMan) reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and was expressed as the ratio between BCR/ABL and beta 2-microglobulin x 100, the lowest level of detectability of the method being 0.00001. A complete CgR (CCgR) was achieved in 85 (44%) of 191 patients and was maintained for 2 years in 67 (79%) of 85 patients. A reduction of the transcript level of more than 2 logs was achieved in all but 9 patients with CCgR versus none of 23 with partial CgR. In the CCgRs the median value of the MR was 0.0008 after 12 months and 0.0001 after 24 months, with the transcript level undetectable in 22 cases. We conclude that in CCgRs the degree of MR may vary from 2 to more than 4 logs, and that there is a progressive decrease of transcript level by time. Only 1 of 22 negative cases has had a relapse as yet.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology L. and A. Serànoli, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Marilina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amabile
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trabacchi
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cilloni
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Testoni
authors.forename: Giovanna Rege
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Cambrin
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonifazi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soverini
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luatti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gottardi
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saglio
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001549:Benzamides; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016313:Genes, abl / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate