Use of imatinib mesylate in elderly patients in Northern Ireland: evidence of comparable haematological and molecular responses to younger patients.
Advanced age is an indicator of poor prognosis in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Since obtaining its UK licence in 2001, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate has effected a paradigm shift in the treatment of CML. We compared survival and molecular response rates in elderly patients to younger patients presenting with CML since the introduction of imatinib. Twenty-five patients aged >60 years were identified. No significant survival difference was found when this group was compared with younger patients. In the elderly group, 53% of those with molecular data (36% of all elderly patients) had a major molecular response as assessed by real time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR). The advent of imatinib therapy appears to have ameliorated much of the negative impact of advancing age on survival in patients with CML.
Sheehy
O M
OM
Department of Haematology, Belfast City Hospital, 97 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 7AB, UK.
Irvine
A E
AE
Cuthbert
R J G
RJ
Humphreys
M W
MW
McMullin
M F
MF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009660:Northern Ireland; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate