title: Response to imatinib mesylate in childhood chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) accounts for less than 3% of all childhood leukemias, hence, data on imatinib (IM) in adult CML patients has been largely extrapolated to children. We have analyzed our data to add to the existing literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Primary objective is to assess the progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary objective are cytogenetic response, overall survival (OS), and toxicities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis from the case records from a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. All the children diagnosed CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) aged less than 18 years registered between 2000 and 2009 were enrolled. All the patients were started on IM at 260 mg/m(2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate the PFS and OS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 64 children with median age of 13 years (range, 1-18) with male predominance (male:female (M: F) - 1.85:1). Sixty-one patients (95.4%) achieved complete hematological response (CHR) at median of 8 weeks. Thirty-seven (57.8%) patients had evaluation of cytogenetic response and were subjects for outcome analysis. The median time to best cytogenetic response evaluation was 13 months (range, 4-52). Twenty-nine patients (78.3%) achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). At a median follow-up of 36 months (range 5-75), 21 (56.8%) remained progression free and 35 (94.5%) are alive. Adverse events were tolerable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PFS at a median follow-up of 36 months is 56.8% and OS 94.5%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Vijay Gandhi
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Linga
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Ranga Raman
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ganta
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Krishnamani Iyer
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kalpathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Sadashivudu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gundeti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Senthil J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rajappa
authors.affiliation: Director, Tata Memorial Hospital, Aganampudi, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Raghunadharao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Digumarti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Tara Roshni
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nizams Institute of Medical Science, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tandon
keywords: Childhood chronic myeloid leukemia; cytogenetic responses; imatinib mesylate; survival