Chronic myeloid leukemia in children and adolescents: results of treatment with imatinib mesylate

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a rare disease in children, accounting for 2-3% of leukemias in this age group. Few studies have reported on efficacy of imatinib in childhood CML. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the efficacy of imatinib in children. A total of 43 patients from age 7 years to 20 years with newly diagnosed CML received imatinib daily at 260 mg/m(2). Response rates, survival and toxicity were evaluated. The median follow-up was 43 months. All patients achieved a complete hematological response. Twenty-five (58.1%) patients achieved a complete cytogenetic response and 18 (41.9%) achieved a major molecular response at any time during their follow-up period. Both overall survival and progression-free survival at 43 months' median follow-up were 100%. Event-free survival was 92.8%. Imatinib was well tolerated. We conclude that imatinib is effective in children and adolescents with CML.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Adolescents and Young Adults: Patient Characteristics, Outcomes and Review of the Literature

“…Of importance, in the analysis by Chen et al, patients were included who received therapy prior to the TKI era (going back to 1975) and therefore includes patients who received interferon and allogeneic stem cell transplantation as part of their standard of care, which was prior to the TKI era. These analyses thus demonstrate that the introduction of TKI into the therapeutic algorithms of patients with CML, including AYA patients, considerably improves the outcome with the suggestion that the survival may be approaching that of the general population for age-matched individuals [15]. The question then arises whether the outcome of AYA patients with CML may be similar or not to that of older patients.…”

Influence of Sokal, Hasford, EUTOS scores and pharmacogenetic factors on the complete cytogenetic response at 1 year in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with imatinib

“…The introduction of imatinib has transfigured the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) [1,2]. The initial trials have shown a good overall survival rate in imatinib-treated patients [3,4].…”

Health-related quality of life of patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia treated with allogeneic hematopoietic SCT versus imatinib

“…27,28 However, imatinib can only control and not 'cure' the disease. Furthermore, the long-term (that is, several decades) effects of TKI usage remain unknown.…”