Efficacy of imatinib mesylate as maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission.

Abstract

Seven Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ALL) patients in first complete remission received maintenance therapy with imatinib alone. Two-year progression-free survival was 75%. Quantitative polymerase-chain-reaction (qPCR) monitoring of BCR-ABL showed that: (i) persisting molecular complete response (CR) was associated with long-lasting CR; (ii) molecular relapse did not invariably mean hematologic relapse; (iii) only the wide and rapid increment of BCR-ABL values was predictive of leukemia relapse.

• Authors: Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi, Giovanni Riva, Roberto Marasca, Silvia Martinelli, Giuseppe Torelli
• Journal: Haematologica (Haematologica) Vol. 90 Issue 9 Pg. 1275-7 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 1592-8721 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 16154854 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Letter)

Chemical References

• Benzamides
• Piperazines
• Pyrimidines
• Imatinib Mesylate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Benzamides
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Imatinib Mesylate
• Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive (drug therapy, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Piperazines (therapeutic use)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (drug therapy, pathology)
• Pyrimidines (therapeutic use)
• Remission Induction