open access

Vol 52, No 5 (2021)
Original research article
Submitted: 2021-01-14
Accepted: 2021-02-19
Published online: 2021-04-28
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Deep molecular response on imatinib treatment — results from a real-life retrospective study

Aleksandra Gołos1, Joanna Niesiobędzka-Krężel2, Joanna Góra-Tybor3
DOI: 10.5603/AHP.a2021.0027
·
Acta Haematol Pol 2021;52(5):504-508.
Affiliations
  1. Departament of Clinical Oncology and Chemotherapy, Luxmed Onkology, Szmocka Hospital, Szamocka 6, 01-748 Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Hematology, Oncology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
  3. Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lodz

open access

Vol 52, No 5 (2021)
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Submitted: 2021-01-14
Accepted: 2021-02-19
Published online: 2021-04-28

Abstract

Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically changed the outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Recent research focused on TKI discontinuation after achieving a deep molecular response (DMR) has revealed that about half of the patients maintain the response. DMR is a key criterion for TKI discontinuation. Our retrospective, ‘real-life’ study was aimed at to estimating the proportion of patients treated with first-line imatinib (IM) who achieved DMR and thus may be candidates for discontinuation of TKI treatment in a real life setting.

Material and methods: Two hundred and twenty-three patients were enrolled. All patients started IM at 400 mg daily. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 57 years (range: 17–92).

Results: Eighty-five patients (43%) in the whole group achieved DMR. Early molecular response (EMR) was achieved by 136 (69%) patients and correlated with the DMR rate (53% with EMR vs 14% without, p < 0.001). Major molecular response (MMR) after a year of treatment was confirmed in 108 (55%) patients, and was predictive for achieving DMR at any time (69% with MMR vs. 24% without, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: DMR can be achieved in a significant proportion of patients in a real-life setting. We observed that both the achievement of an EMR at three months and MMR at 12 months were associated with a significant advantage in terms of DMR.

Abstract

Introduction: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have dramatically changed the outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Recent research focused on TKI discontinuation after achieving a deep molecular response (DMR) has revealed that about half of the patients maintain the response. DMR is a key criterion for TKI discontinuation. Our retrospective, ‘real-life’ study was aimed at to estimating the proportion of patients treated with first-line imatinib (IM) who achieved DMR and thus may be candidates for discontinuation of TKI treatment in a real life setting.

Material and methods: Two hundred and twenty-three patients were enrolled. All patients started IM at 400 mg daily. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 57 years (range: 17–92).

Results: Eighty-five patients (43%) in the whole group achieved DMR. Early molecular response (EMR) was achieved by 136 (69%) patients and correlated with the DMR rate (53% with EMR vs 14% without, p < 0.001). Major molecular response (MMR) after a year of treatment was confirmed in 108 (55%) patients, and was predictive for achieving DMR at any time (69% with MMR vs. 24% without, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: DMR can be achieved in a significant proportion of patients in a real-life setting. We observed that both the achievement of an EMR at three months and MMR at 12 months were associated with a significant advantage in terms of DMR.

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Keywords

chronic myeloid leukemia; imatinib; deep molecular response

About this article
Title

Deep molecular response on imatinib treatment — results from a real-life retrospective study

Journal

Acta Haematologica Polonica

Issue

Vol 52, No 5 (2021)

Article type

Original research article

Pages

504-508

Published online

2021-04-28

Page views

4680

Article views/downloads

181

DOI

10.5603/AHP.a2021.0027

Bibliographic record

Acta Haematol Pol 2021;52(5):504-508.

Keywords

chronic myeloid leukemia
imatinib
deep molecular response

Authors

Aleksandra Gołos
Joanna Niesiobędzka-Krężel
Joanna Góra-Tybor

References (13)
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