[Analysis of plasma trough level of imatinib in Chinese CML patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between plasma trough level of imatinib and clinical outcomes in Chinese CML patients.


METHODS
Plasma trough levels in 416 CML patients who received imatinib orally in six general hospitals were assessed. The correlations of imatinib plasma trough level with baseline characteristics including age, weight and BSA, and clinical response were evaluated.


RESULTS
(1) Effects of age, body weight and BSA on imatinib plasma trough levels were not to be clinically significant. (2) Median imatinib plasma trough levels was 1271 (109-4329). Imatinib plasma trough level was related to dose of imatinib administration. Plasma trough levels at imatinib of dose < 400, 400 and > 400 mg were (969 ± 585), (1341 ± 595) and (1740 ± 748) µg/L (P < 0.01), respectively. (3) There was no statistic difference in imatinib plasma trough level with complete cytogenetic response [CCyR (1337 ± 571) µg/L vs no CCyR (1354 ± 689) µg/L, P = 0.255]. (4) Imatinib plasma trough level might be important for a good clinical response in some CML patients.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a large interpatient variability in imatinib plasma concentration in Chinese CML patients. No correlation of imatinib plasma trough level with CCyR was observed. However, higher doses of imatinib were shown to attain greater trough plasma concentration, suggesting that imatinib plasma trough level might be important for a good clinical response in some CML patients.
Department of Hematology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Li
L
Zhou
Fan-yi
FY
Meng
Jie
J
Jin
Qing-shu
QS
Zeng
Xin
X
Du
Xiao-jun
XJ
Huang
Zhi-xiang
ZX
Shen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001549:Benzamides / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate