title: Long-term outcome of complete cytogenetic responders after imatinib 400 mg in late chronic phase, philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia: the GIMEMA Working Party on CML.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Imatinib mesylate (IM) has rapidly become the front-line treatment of Philadelphia-positive (Ph-pos) chronic myeloid leukemia, but the number of patients who were treated and are being treated with IM second-line is still substantial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have monitored and analyzed the cytogenetic and molecular response to IM 400 mg/d in a cohort of 277 late chronic phase (LCP) patients who were resistant or intolerant to interferon-alpha and were observed for 48 to 79 months (median, 72 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred fifty-three patients (55%) achieved a complete cytogenetic response (CCgR). Seventy-seven percent of them were still in CCgR after 5 years. The rate of response loss did not increase over time. The 6-year progression-free survival and overall survival of these 153 complete cytogenetic responders were 90% and 91%, respectively. Molecular response was less than major in 21%, major in 78%, and complete in one patient only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data confirm that, in LCP the CCgR rate to IM is 50% to 60%, and show that CCgR is stable and is associated with a prolonged survival, even if leukemia continues to be molecularly detectable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology L. and A. Seràgnoli S. Orsola Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. francesca.palandri@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Palandri
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iacobucci
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Marilina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amabile
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poerio
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Testoni
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soverini
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castagnetti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breccia
authors.forename: Giorgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Specchia
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abruzzese
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cilloni
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saglio
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pane
authors.forename: Anna Marina
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Liberati
authors.forename: Gianantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rosti
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051562:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl; C496613:BCR protein, human; D051562:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr