Prolonged Imatinib Therapy Linked With Deeper Molecular Response in CML-CP

For patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP), prolonged imatinib use helps achieve deeper molecular response with long-term treatment, according to a study published in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma & Leukemia.¹

Researchers retrospectively analyzed data from 131 patients with CML-CP who had undergone imatinib therapy; this was done to determine the frequency of complete molecular response and its clinical significance on patient outcomes and survival upon long-term follow-up.

Eighty-eight patients achieved complete molecular response upon median follow-up of 65 months. Rate of complete molecular response was higher for patients who achieved complete cytogenetic response at 12 months and major molecular response at 18 months.

Overall survival was not different between the 2 groups, and complete molecular response was associated with longer progression-free survival without statistical significance.

Reference

1. Atagunduz IK, Toptas T, Deniz R, et al. Effects of deeper molecular responses on outcomes in chronic myeloid leukemia patients in chronic phase treated with imatinib mesylate. 2016 Sep 16. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2016.09.006 [Epub ahead of print]