title: Imatinib mesylate discontinuation in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia in complete molecular remission for more than 2 years.
abstract: In the present study, we address the issue of the discontinuation of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) in chronic myelogenous leukemia with undetectable residual disease for more than 2 years. Twelve patients were included. The median duration of real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR) negativity and imatinib therapy were, respectively, 32 months (range, 24-46 months) and 45 months (range, 32-56 months) before imatinib interruption. Six patients displayed a molecular relapse with a detectable BCR-ABL transcript at 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months. Imatinib was then reintroduced and led to a novel molecular response in most patients. Six other patients (50%) still have an undetectable level of BCR-ABL transcript after a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 9-24 months). We hypothesize that relapses observed within 6 months reflect the kinetics of undetectable dividing chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Those cells may be eradicated or controlled in long-term nonrelapsing patients, as described in our study.
authors.affiliation: Fédération d'hématologie et Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rousselot
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huguet
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Legros
authors.forename: Jean Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cayuela
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maarek
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marit
authors.forename: Eliane
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gluckman
authors.forename: Josy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reiffers
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gardembas
authors.forename: François-Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Mahon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D028761:Withholding Treatment
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl