COMPARISON OF TREATMENT OUTCOME AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKAEMIA WHO ACHIEVED COMPLETE CYTOGENETIC RESPONSE WITHIN OR AFTER ONE YEAR OF IMATINIB MESYLATE THERAPY

The introduction of imatinib, as a type of targeted molecular therapy, has profoundly changed the treatment outcome of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The aim of this study was to assess and compare treatment outcome among patients who achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCgR) within or after one year following initiation of imatinib therapy. A group of 42 adult patients with early chronic-phase Philadelphia-positive CML treated with imatinib mesylate therapy has been studied. In the study group CCgR has been achieved in 36/42 (85.71%) analysed patients, while in 3/42 (7.14%) patients the absence of cytogenetic response has been noted. Early CCgR has been achieved by 25/36 (69.44%) patients with response at median time of 6.9±1.9 months, while late CCgR has been achieved by 11/36 (30.56%) patients at median time of 18.75±2.4 months. Univariate analysis has identified prognostic factors for achieving early and late CCgR. Analysis of remission duration of treatment responders has shown that 21/25 (84%) patients in the group with early CCgR and 9/11 (81.81%) patients from the group with late CCgR still maintained stable remission on last cytogenetic control. The estimated 5-year survival rate was 85% for early responders and 74% for late responders. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that there are no differences in the treatment outcome, i.e. level of response, of patients with CML in relation to whether the CCgR was achieved within or after one year of imatinib therapy