title: The effect of first-line imatinib interim therapy on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Previously, we suggested that imatinib incorporation into conventional chemotherapy as an alternative (imatinib interim therapy) might be a useful strategy for bridging the time to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+) ALL). Here, we provide an updated report on this strategy in 29 patients. At the time of enrollment, 23 patients (79.3%) achieved complete remission (CR). After the first imatinib cycle, the median breakpoint cluster region-Abelson oncogene locus (BCR-ABL)/ABL ratios decreased by 0.77 log in 25 (86.2%) responders, and their BCR-ABL/ABL ratios decreased further by 0.34 log after the second imatinib cycle, which included 7 molecular CR. One patient (4.3%) relapsed during the imatinib therapy. The remaining 3 patients were primarily refractory to both imatinib and chemotherapy. Twenty-five (86.2%) of the 29 patients received transplants in first CR. With a median follow-up duration of 25 months after SCT, the 3-year estimated probabilities of relapse, nonrelapse mortality, disease-free survival, and overall survival were 3.8%, 18.7%, 78.1%, and 78.1%, respectively. In comparison to our historical control data, first-line imatinib interim therapy appears to provide a good quality of CR and a survival advantage for patients with Ph(+) ALL. Further long-term follow-up is needed to validate the results of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 62 Youido-Dong, Youngdeungpo-Ku, Seoul 150-713, Korea (South). leeseok@catholic.ac.kr
authors.forename: Seok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoo-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Hee-Je
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Dong-Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo-Sung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Chun-Choo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001549:Benzamides; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011336:Probability; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl