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.
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.
Guastafierro
Salvatore
S
Division of Haematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Falcone
Umberto
U
Celentano
Maria
M
Coppola
Milena
M
Ferrara
Maria Giovanna
MG
Sica
Antonello
A
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
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl