Efficacy of imatinib mesylate as maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission
Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi, Giovanni Riva, Roberto Marasca, Silvia Martinelli, Giuseppe Torelli, Leonardo Potenza, Mario Luppi, Giovanni Riva, Roberto Marasca, Silvia Martinelli, Giuseppe Torelli
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.
Source: PubMed