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Imatinib mesylate is effective in children with chronic myelogenous leukemia in late chronic and advanced phase and in relapse after stem cell transplantation

Abstract

A multicentric phase 2 study was conducted to determine the efficiency and the tolerance of imatinib mesylate in children with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in advanced phase of the disease, in relapse after stem cell transplantation, or in case of failure to an interferon α-based regimen. In all, 30 children from eight European countries were enrolled. In 18 children assessable for hematologic response, imatinib mesylate induced complete hematologic response in eight (80%) of the 10 patients included in chronic phase and in six (75%) of eight enrolled in advanced phase of the disease with acceptable toxicity. In 27 patients assessable for cytogenetic response, imatinib mesylate induced disappearance of Philadelphia chromosome-positive bone marrow cells in 12 (60%) of 20 children included in chronic phase and in two (29%) of seven included in advanced phase. A reduction of the bcr-abl/abl ratio to less than 10−4 was achieved in 11 (50%) of the children included in chronic phase. Estimated 12-month overall survival rate was 95% (95% CI, 87–100%) for the patients included in chronic phase and 75% (95%CI, 45–100%) for those enrolled in advanced phase. Imatinib mesylate is well tolerated and molecular remission can be achieved in children with CML.

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Correspondence to F Millot.

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Preliminary data were presented at the 45th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, CA, December 6–9, 2003.

Appendix A

Appendix A

In addition to the authors, the following investigators participated in this trial: Claire Berger, Saint Etienne, France; Françoise Mazingue, Lille, France; Guy Leverger, Paris, France; Frédéric Bernard, Montpellier, France; Dominique Plantaz, Grenoble, France; Yves Bertrand, Lyon, France; Virginie Gandemer, Rennes, France.

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Millot, F., Guilhot, J., Nelken, B. et al. Imatinib mesylate is effective in children with chronic myelogenous leukemia in late chronic and advanced phase and in relapse after stem cell transplantation. Leukemia 20, 187–192 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404051

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