title: A review of the clinical and economic outcomes of imatinib in Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare, high-risk, aggressive form of acute leukemia, affecting primarily adults and the elderly. Patients with high-risk forms of ALL typically have extremely poor prognosis and incur high disease-related costs. Successful use of imatinib in patients with Ph+ chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has led to the administration of imatinib in recent clinical studies for patients with Ph+ALL. In this review, the clinical outcomes of imatinib used as a single-agent or in combination with chemotherapy are discussed. In addition, an overview of the economic and quality of life burden associated with high-risk forms of ALL (with Ph+ALL being the most common high risk ALL), as well as the cost-effectiveness of imatinib in Ph+ALL compared with conventional chemotherapy, are presented.
authors.affiliation: Pharmerit North America LLC, 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Kimbach T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Carpiuc
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Marc F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Botteman
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Joel W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D010879:Piperazines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl