title: Efficacy of imatinib mesylate as maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission.
abstract: Seven Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) patients in first complete remission received maintenance therapy with imatinib alone. Two-year progression-free survival was 75%. Quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (qPCR) monitoring of BCR-ABL showed that: (i) persisting molecular complete response (CR) was associated with long-lasting CR; (ii) molecular relapse did not invariably mean hematologic relapse; (iii) only the wide and rapid increment of BCR-ABL values was predictive of leukemia relapse.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marasca
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001549:Benzamides; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate