Imatinib mesylate (STI571) treatment in patients with chronic‐phase chronic myelogenous leukaemia previously submitted to autologous stem cell transplantation

• Published in: British journal of haematology 2003-02, Vol.120 (3), p.500-504
• Main Authors: Cervantes, Francisco, Hernández‐Boluda, Juan‐Carlos, Odriozola, Jesús, Camós, Mireia, Villalón, Lucía, Martínez‐Climent, José‐Angel, Del Campo, Raquel, García‐Conde, Javier, Montserrat, Emilio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; autologous stem cell transplantation; Benzamides; Biological and medical sciences; Chemotherapy; chronic myeloid leukaemia; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Hematology; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Imatinib Mesylate; Interferons - therapeutic use; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive - therapy; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Piperazines - therapeutic use; Pyrimidines - therapeutic use; STI571; treatment; Treatment Failure; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0007-1048; 1365-2141
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04077.x

Imatinib mesylate (STI571) is a highly effective and well‐tolerated treatment for patients with chronic‐phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), but information on its efficacy and tolerance in intensively pretreated patients is scarce. Thirty‐three chronic‐phase CML patients who were resistant or intolerant to interferon (IFN) and had been previously submitted to autologous stem cell transplantation were treated with imatinib for a median of 14 months (range: 6–19 months). Seven patients were in haematological response (HR) at the start of treatment; the remaining 26 attained a HR at a median of 3 weeks (range: 1–4 weeks). Major cytogenetic response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months were 42%, 45% and 55%, respectively, including 21%, 24% and 33% complete responses. Grade 3–4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anaemia developed in 33%, 27% and 12% of patients respectively. Non‐haematological toxicity included superficial oedema (21% of patients), gastrointestinal symptoms (18%), muscle cramps (15%), skin rash and liver enzyme increase (3% each). These results were not significantly different from those in 65 chronic‐phase CML patients, resistant or intolerant to interferon without a previous ASCT, who were included in the same protocol. Imatinib mesylate is effective and safe in chronic‐phase CML patients with a previous history of intensive treatment.