TY - JOUR
T1 - The response to imatinib and interferon-α is more rapid than the response to imatinib alone
T2 - A retrospective analysis of 495 philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia patients in early chronic phase
AU - Palandri, Francesca
AU - Castagnetti, Fausto
AU - Iacobucci, Ilaria
AU - Martinelli, Giovanni
AU - Amabile, Marilina
AU - Gugliotta, Gabriele
AU - Poerio, Angela
AU - Testoni, Nicoletta
AU - Breccia, Massimo
AU - Bocchia, Monica
AU - Crugnola, Monica
AU - Rege-Cambrin, Giovanna
AU - Martino, Bruno
AU - Pierri, Ivana
AU - Radaelli, Franca
AU - Specchia, Giorgina
AU - Pane, Fabrizio
AU - Saglio, Giuseppe
AU - Rosti, Gianantonio
AU - Baccarani, Michele
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Before the introduction of imatinib, interferon α-based regimens were the gold standard for treatment of early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The combination of IFN-α with imatinib is currently being investigated in at least two large clinical trials, the German CML Study IV and the French SPIRIT trial. We reviewed the cytogenetic and molecular responses of 76 early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients who were treated with imatinib and interferon-α and of 419 early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib alone front-line. The complete cytogenetic response rate was higher in the IM+IFN-α group than in the imatinib group at six months (60% vs. 42%; P=0.003), but not at 48 months (88% vs. 88%). The durability of the complete cytogenetic response was similar in the two groups with 94% and 91% of complete cytogenetic responders in continuous complete cytogenetic response at 48 months (P=0.56). The major molecular response rate was higher in the IM+IFN-α group at six months (58% vs. 34%; P=0.0001) and 12 months (67% vs. 47%; P=0.001) but not later on (65% vs. 57% at 48 months; P=0.25). Overall and progression free survival were comparable in the two groups; a significant trend to a better event free survival was observed in patients treated with PegIFNα (91% vs. 78%; P=0.02). These data suggest that the response to the combination treatment is more rapid. It is not yet known how much a rapid reduction will influence the longer-term overall and progression free survival, and the cure rate.
AB - Before the introduction of imatinib, interferon α-based regimens were the gold standard for treatment of early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients. The combination of IFN-α with imatinib is currently being investigated in at least two large clinical trials, the German CML Study IV and the French SPIRIT trial. We reviewed the cytogenetic and molecular responses of 76 early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients who were treated with imatinib and interferon-α and of 419 early chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib alone front-line. The complete cytogenetic response rate was higher in the IM+IFN-α group than in the imatinib group at six months (60% vs. 42%; P=0.003), but not at 48 months (88% vs. 88%). The durability of the complete cytogenetic response was similar in the two groups with 94% and 91% of complete cytogenetic responders in continuous complete cytogenetic response at 48 months (P=0.56). The major molecular response rate was higher in the IM+IFN-α group at six months (58% vs. 34%; P=0.0001) and 12 months (67% vs. 47%; P=0.001) but not later on (65% vs. 57% at 48 months; P=0.25). Overall and progression free survival were comparable in the two groups; a significant trend to a better event free survival was observed in patients treated with PegIFNα (91% vs. 78%; P=0.02). These data suggest that the response to the combination treatment is more rapid. It is not yet known how much a rapid reduction will influence the longer-term overall and progression free survival, and the cure rate.
KW - Chronic myeloid leukemia
KW - Imatinib
KW - Interferon α
KW - Molecular response
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956035133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77956035133&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3324/haematol.2009.021246
DO - 10.3324/haematol.2009.021246
M3 - Article
C2 - 20305139
AN - SCOPUS:77956035133
VL - 95
SP - 1415
EP - 1419
JO - Haematologica
JF - Haematologica
SN - 0390-6078
IS - 8
ER -