title: Impact of age on the outcome of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in late chronic phase: results of a phase II study of the GIMEMA CML Working Party.
abstract: To assess the effect of age on response and compliance to treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) we performed a sub-analysis within a phase II trial of the GIMEMA CML Working Party (CML/002/STI571). Since the WHO cut-off age to define an older patient is 65 years, among the 284 patients considered, we identified 226 (80%) younger patients (below 65 years) and 58 (20%) older patients (above 65 years) before starting imatinib. Response rates (hematologic and cytogenetic) were lower in the older age group but the probabilities of progression-free survival and overall survival (median observation time 3 years) were the same. Moreover, among complete cytogenetic responders, no differences were found in the level of molecular response between the two age groups. As might be expected, older patients experienced more adverse events, both hematologic and non-hematologic: this worsened compliance did not, however, prevent a long-term outcome similar to that of younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosti
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iacobucci
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castagnetti
authors.forename: Marilina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amabile
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cilloni
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poerio
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soverini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palandri
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rege Cambrin
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alimena
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latagliata
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Testoni
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saglio
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate