Late response to low-dose imatinib in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia

Int J Hematol. 2012 Sep;96(3):357-63. doi: 10.1007/s12185-012-1155-1. Epub 2012 Aug 15.

Abstract

Imatinib was the first BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor to become clinically available. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the long-term efficacy of low-dose imatinib (final maintenance dose <300 mg per day) due to intolerance, in comparison to optimal-dose imatinib (≥300 mg per day) in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of the median time to complete cytogenetic response, major molecular response, and complete molecular response were longer for 31 patients receiving low-dose imatinib (360, 1360, and 1420 days, respectively) than 74 patients receiving optimal-dose imatinib (170, 420, and 720 days, respectively). However, the differences in response shrank over time and progression-free survival were comparable between the two groups. These findings suggest that long-term treatment with low-dose imatinib is an acceptable alternative for patients with intolerance to the optimal dose.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Benzamides
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate