title: Long-term remission in BCR/ABL-positive AML-M6 patient treated with Imatinib Mesylate.
abstract: BCR/ABL-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare disease, characterized by a poor prognosis, with resistance to induction chemotherapy and frequent relapses in responsive patients. Here we report a case of BCR/ABL-positive AML-M6 who, after relapse, was treated with Imatinib Mesylate (600 mg/die) and within 4 months achieved a cytogenetic and molecular complete response. After more than 4 years of continuous Imatinib therapy, nested RT-PCR for BCR/ABL is persistently negative. The case reported shows that the response obtained with Imatinib Mesylate in BCR/ABL-positive AML may be long lasting, offering a chance of successful treatment for this poor prognosis group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Transfusional Medicine, Ospedale Civile Spirito Santo, Pescara-Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pompetti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spadano
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sau
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mennucci
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catinella
authors.forename: Paolo Guanciali
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: Giandomenico
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palka
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fioritoni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iacone
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl