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Imatinib mesylate (Glivec) pre-treatment does not have a negative effect on outcome of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Philadelphia-positive leukemias

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 34, pages 827–828 (2004)Cite this article

Imatinib mesylate (Glivec) is the drug of choice in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)1, 2 and, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, has a significant activity in Philadelphia-positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).3, 4 Nonetheless, to date, allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is the only curative approach to CML.5 Moreover, responses of Ph+ ALL cases to Imatinib are usually short-lived and these patients are referred, when a donor is available, to SCT.

As the role of Imatinib is gaining ground in the treatment of Ph-positive leukemias, its effects on subsequent allogeneic SCT are still largely unknown. A recent report from Zander et al6 seems to indicate a higher transplant-related mortality in patients pre-treated with Imatinib for Ph+ acute leukemias, but other studies on Ph+ ALL patients do not confirm these data.7, 8, 9

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  1. Division of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University Hospital, P.zzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 1, Udine, 33100, Italy

    M Tiribelli, L Marin, E Calistri, A Geromin, D Damiani & R Fanin

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  1. M Tiribelli
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  2. L Marin
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  3. E Calistri
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  4. A Geromin
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  5. D Damiani
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Tiribelli, M., Marin, L., Calistri, E. et al. Imatinib mesylate (Glivec) pre-treatment does not have a negative effect on outcome of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in Philadelphia-positive leukemias. Bone Marrow Transplant 34, 827–828 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704687

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