title: Is it possible to discontinue imatinib mesylate therapy in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia patients with undetectable BCR/ABL? A case report and a review of the literature.
abstract: Imatinib mesylate (IM) therapy leads to a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) in 75-90% of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) patients in chronic phase, but only a small percentage of patients achieve complete molecular response (CMR). Very little is known about IM discontinuation. We report the case of a 20-years-old male patient in chronic phase CML who maintained undetectable BCR/ABL mRNA levels, despite IM discontinuation over a period of 15 months after achieving CMR. Our patient reached CCyR and CMR after 3 and 6 months of IM treatment, respectively. We also reviewed the published literature concerning cases of IM discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guastafierro
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sica
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001549:Benzamides; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl