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Interferon-α is able to maintain complete molecular remission induced by imatinib after its discontinuation

Leukemia volume 22, pages 1090–1091 (2008)Cite this article

The induction of myeloblastin (MBN) expression by interferon-α (IFN-α), but not by imatinib, may contribute to the specific ability of IFN-α to induce an MBN-specific T-cell response in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients.1 We report here the clinical outcome for five CML patients who received low-dose IFN-α when CML was undetectable after imatinib. At the time of complete molecular remission (CMR) achieved by imatinib, all patients discontinued imatinib for intolerance and were ‘maintained’ successfully with IFN-α alone. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Patient 1 was a 66-year-old woman with CML diagnosed in October 1992. She received chemotherapy and autografting.2 In February 2002, she started imatinib 400 mg daily and 3 months after she achieved complete cytogenetic remission (CCyR). In March 2005, CMR was achieved by real-time quantitative-PCR. Unfortunately, the patient had persistent imatinib intolerance (abdominal pain, diarrhea, fluid retention and muscle cramps). Despite the concomitant medication given, these adverse events continued. In October 2006, it was confirmed the CMR status and we decided to discontinue imatinib and treat the patient with IFN-α 3 MU/m2 twice weekly. Sixteen months after (February 2008), the patient is in very good health and maintains CMR.

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  1. Division of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Genova, Italy

    A M Carella

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  1. A M Carella
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Correspondence to A M Carella.

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Carella, A. Interferon-α is able to maintain complete molecular remission induced by imatinib after its discontinuation. Leukemia 22, 1090–1091 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2008.94

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