Safety and Efficacy of Imatinib in Chronic Myelogenous Patients Older Than 70 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

• CML Ph+ (assessed by cytogenetic or FISH)
• Chronic phase with less than 5% bone marrow blasts
• Diagnosis within 12 months
• Age ≥ 70 year at inclusion
• PS grade 0 to 2 (ECOG)
• Mini mental status more than 25
• Hydroxyurea optional before Imatinib
• Adequate end organ function, defined as the following: total bilirubin <1.5x uln, sgpt <3x uln, creatinine <1.5x uln.

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients who cannot sign an informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study in keeping with the policies of the hospital
• Mini mental status ≤ 25
• patients who are not able to adequately take the study drug
• Age less than 70 y
• accelerated or blastic phase
• previous therapy with imatinib or interferon
• HIV positivity