Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase with Imatinib

Abstract

Objective: Imatinib (Gleevec®) is accepted to be the first line therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia-chronic phase (CML-CP) with positive Philadelphia chromosome (Ph’). This study is aimed to describe the complete hematologic response (CHR) among the patients with CML-CP with positive Ph’ chromosome that are treated with imatinib 100-400 mg/day Patients and Methods: The CML-CP patients with positive Ph’ who were treated with imatinib 100-400 mg/day at Maharat Nakohn Ratchasima Hospital during the year 2009-2013, were retrospectively reviewed. The CHR and side effects were evaluated at the third, sixth and twelfth months of treatment. Results: In 5-year duration, 43 patients, 28 males and 15 females, were treated with imatinib of 100-400 mg/day. Ages ranged from 3 to 77 years. At the 3^rd, 6^th and 12^th months of treatment, the CHRs were 97.7%, 95.3% and 83.7%, respectively. The side effects included neutropenia, seven cases with grade 1, three with grade 2 and two cases with minimal nausea. There were five cases emerging blast crisis and three cases dying of various causes unrelated to therapy. Conclusion: Forty-three CML-CP patients are treated with imatinib of 100-400 mg/day. In one year, CHR is 83.7%. The side effect is neutropenia, 7 cases with grade 1, 3 with grade 2. Five cases develop blast crisis and three cases die of various causes unrelated to therapy.