title: Is it downhill from here? Eliminating leukemic stem cells and curing chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia who respond to imatinib have a rapid initial decrease in BCR-ABL transcript levels (α), followed by a slow decline (β). The rate of β decrease is consistent with declining leukemic stem cells and may predict which patients may safely discontinue therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Neil P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D001549:Benzamides; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl