title: Gender and BCR-ABL transcript type are correlated with molecular response to imatinib treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Achieving a major molecular response (MMR) is the goal of imatinib therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia. However, the association between gender, BCR-ABL transcript type, and age with MMR is not well understood and often controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 166 patients who have been treated with imatinib for up to 10 yr.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men had a lower MMR rate than women (63.3% vs. 81.6%, P = 0.006) and a shorter time to relapse (median 354 vs. 675 d, P = 0.049), while patients with b3a2 or with both b3a2 and b2a2 break point transcripts had higher MMR rate than those with b2a2 (81.8%, 77.1% vs. 60.7%, P = 0.023 for b3a2 vs. b2a2, P = 0.043 for both vs. b2a2). A striking difference was found between men with b2a2 and women with both b2a2 and b3a2 in terms of MMR rate (43.8% vs. 88.9%), MMR rate within 6 months (7.1% vs. 62.5%) and the time to MMR (median d 493 vs. 159, P = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both gender and BCR-ABL transcript, but not age, were significantly associated with the molecular response. Men with b2a2 represent a less favorable group in their response to imatinib treatment and may need alternative therapy regimen and closer monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Science, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Han-Xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sjaarda
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jocob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyck
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Randa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Juravinski Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hillis
authors.affiliation: Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Science, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Science, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.|Molecular Genetics Laboratory, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Juravinski Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leber
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, Hamilton Health Science, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Population Genomics Program, Chanchlani Research Centre, McMaster University; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pare
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.|Molecular Genetics Laboratory, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Bekim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadikovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C581634:BCR-ABL1 fusion protein, human; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
keywords: BCR-ABL; chronic myeloid leukemia; gender; imatinib; major molecular response