Imatinib mesylate therapy reduces bone marrow fibrosis in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
BACKGROUND
Reticulin-stained bone marrow fibrosis is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Resolution of fibrosis with therapy may improve patient outcome.


METHODS
The effect of imatinib therapy on bone marrow fibrosis was evaluated in 40 patients with chronic-phase CML who were treated after interferon-alpha failure.


RESULTS
Thirty-one patients (78%) had severe (Grade 3 or 4) reticulin fibrosis prior to therapy. After imatinib therapy was administered for 3 to > 24 months, fibrosis was reduced by at least 2 grades in 19 of the 31 patients (61%) and by at least 1 grade in 34 patients (85%). There was no correlation noted between reduction of fibrosis and cytogenetic response. However, a reduction in fibrosis was found to correlate with a reduction in bone marrow megakaryocytosis (P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with imatinib mesylate appears to reduce CML-associated bone marrow fibrosis in most patients who are treated during the chronic phase of disease. This effect may be independent of the degree of suppression of Philadelphia chromosome-positive cells, and may improve prognosis in patients with CML.
Bueso-Ramos
Carlos E
CE
Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Cortes
Jorge
J
Talpaz
Moshe
M
O'Brien
Susan
S
Giles
Francis
F
Rios
Mary Beth
MB
Medeiros
L Jeffrey
LJ
Kantarjian
Hagop
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015466:Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate