Imatinib improves survival of CML patients in accelerated phase: A 48-month follow-up

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the clinical evolution of chronic myeloidleukemia patients who had received Imatinib, 48 months after thebeginning of a study carried out at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein.Methods: The progress of the disease of 66 patients that enrolled inan expanded access program was evaluated and the treatmentresponses were monitored by the hematological and cytogeneticresponses. Of these patients, 28 (42.42%) were in chronic phase, 23(38.85%) in accelerated phase, and 15 (22.75%) in blast crisis. Theywere contacted 24 months after the end of the study and inquiredabout the use of the medication, as well as about symptoms relatedto toxicity and results of the last hemogram and cytogenetic tests.Results: After 36 months of the beginning of the treatment, 41patients (62.12%) were alive (25 in chronic phase, 15 in acceleratedphase, and 1 in blasr crisis. Thirty seven patients could be contacted37 to 48 months after the beginning of the treatment. One of themdropped out. Of the remaining, 21 belonged to the chronic phasegroup, 14 to the accelerated phase group, and one to the blast crisisgroup. Conclusion: The follow-up of patients using Imatinib shows aimprove on the survival rates of patients with chronic myeloidleukemia, particularly during the acute phase, in which a goodhematological and cytogenetic response was observed in over 65%of the patients, after 4 years of acceleration of the disease. Thisstudy shows that an additional 3-years’ survival with good quality oflife was achieved by those patients.

Keywords

• Leukemia
• myeloid
• chronic/drug therapy
• Proteintyrosine kinase/therapeutic use
• Piperazines
• Survival