Sustained remissions and low rate of BCR-ABL resistance mutations with imatinib treatment chronic myelogenous leukemia in patients treated in late chronic phase: a 5-year follow up.

The introduction of Imatinib (IM) has significantly altered the treatment for CML, although only limited follow-up results are available. As failure of Interferon-alpha had been associated with poor prognosis and results of IM-treatment in this patient group may allow earlier estimation of long-term benefits for early chronic phase patients. Therefore we prospectively analyzed the quality and duration of remissions and the rate of BCR-ABL resistance mutations occurring in patients treated with IM, if they were intolerant or refractory to interferon. Fifty-nine patients were included and median follow up is 4.75 years. Haematologic remission rate was 92% and 62% of patients achieved at least…