title: Discontinuation of alpha-interferon treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in long-lasting complete molecular response.
abstract: To evaluate follow-up after α-interferon (IFN) discontinuation, 23 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in stable complete molecular response (CMolR) with IFN were revisited. After a median IFN treatment of 105.8 months (IR 56.1 - 127.3), all patients discontinued IFN for prolonged CMolR (12), intolerance (8) or planned ABMT (3). After 12.5 months, one patient developed an extramedullar blast crisis. Four patients needed to start imatinib, all achieving again molecular response. Eighteen patients are still off-therapy (median time from IFN discontinuation 125.5 months, IR 86.9-205.3); among these, five are BCR-ABL negative, six present with a sporadic positivity (BCR-ABL ratio < 0.1) and seven show a stable and long-lasting mild positivity (BCR-ABL ratio < 0.5). Patients in prolonged CMolR with IFN have low risk of recurrence after discontinuation; the reappearance of a BCR-ABL positivity < 0.5 did not always precede a relapse, suggesting mechanisms of immunological control induced by IFN.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Latagliata
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Breccia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carmosino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vozella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volpicelli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrucci
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molica
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salaroli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Diverio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Hematology , "Sapienza" University of Rome , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alimena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: chronic myeloid leukemia; treatment discontinuation; α-interferon