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Allografting

Imatinib mesylate versus allogeneic BMT for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in first chronic phase

Abstract

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is now first-line treatment for CML. To study the results of treatment with IM after IFN failure/intolerance versus allogeneic BMT (allo-BMT), we retrospectively analyzed 264 patients treated for CML in first chronic phase in three different institutions. Over a 6-year period (2001–2006), 174 patients received IM after failure of or intolerance to IFN. During the same period of time, 90 patients received an allo-BMT from an HLA-matched sibling (n=83) or an unrelated donor (n=7). The IM group was older (41 versus 33 years, P<0.001). Five-year EFS was 62% among patients receiving IM and 52% among patients undergoing allo-BMT (P=0.0002). OS at 5 years was 93% for IM-treated patients and 59% for patients undergoing allo-BMT (P<0.0001). Allo-BMT cannot be considered as first-line treatment for CML patients in first chronic phase.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Heliz Neves, Ingrid Mito, Gustavo Magalhaes and Claudia de Souza.

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Correspondence to H Bittencourt.

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Bittencourt, H., Funke, V., Fogliatto, L. et al. Imatinib mesylate versus allogeneic BMT for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in first chronic phase. Bone Marrow Transplant 42, 597–600 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.218

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