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Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients might experience molecular remission after imatinib mesylate treatment

07-24-2006

According to recent research from France, "Imatinib mesylate induces a complete cytogenetic response (CCR) in many patients with CML. However, the ultimate goal of therapy for CML is complete elimination of Philadelphia chromosome positive cells or BCR-ABL rearrangements."

"We studied molecular responses in CML patients in CCR after imatinib treatment," explained M. Colombat and colleagues, INSERM E217. "Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis were used to monitor BCR-ABL levels in 59 CCR patients. Negative results were confirmed by two different techniques performed in two different laboratories. Patients were considered in complete molecular remission if they had 4 undetectable analyses from 2 separate samples taken 3 months apart. The median follow-up was 41 months (17-53). The median BCR-ABL/ABL ratio at the time of CCR was .3% (0-9.88).

"Patients were split into 2 groups: group A (n=43) comprised patients with a detectable BCR-ABL/ABL ratio throughout the follow-up and group B (n=16) included those with an undetectable level of BCR-ABL/ABL (<10-5) i.e. in complete molecular remission. No relapses were observed in group B, while 13 group A patients lost their CCR. The probability of losing CCR in this group was 33.2%>+/-18.0. By Cox regression analysis the best factor for predicting the probability of achieving molecular remission was having a CCR at 6 months (p=.038) or at 3 months (p=.024)."

The researchers concluded, "Molecular remission after imatinib treatment, i.e. BCRABL/ABL <10-5 in peripheral blood, is not a rare event, particularly in patients achieving CCR at 6 months."

Colombat and colleagues published their study in Haematologica - the Hematology Journal (Molecular remission in chronic myeloid leukemia patients with sustained complete cytogenetic remission after imatinib mesylate treatment. Haematologica, 2006;91(2):162-168).

For additional information, contact F.X. Mahon, University of Bordeaux 2, INSERM, Laboratory Hematopoiese Normale & Pathology, E217, 146 Rue Leo Saignat, F-33076 Bordeaux, France.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.