Nilotinib in patients with Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase following imatinib resistance or intolerance: 24-month follow-up results

Leukemia. 2012 Jun;26(6):1189-94. doi: 10.1038/leu.2011.323. Epub 2011 Nov 11.

Abstract

Nilotinib (Tasigna) is a potent and selective BCR-ABL inhibitor approved for use in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CML-CP) and in patients with CML-CP and accelerated phase (CML-AP) who are resistant to or intolerant of imatinib. Patients with CML-AP (N = 137) with at least 24 months of follow-up or who discontinued early were evaluated to determine the efficacy and tolerability of nilotinib. The majority (55%) of patients achieved a confirmed hematologic response, and 31% attained a confirmed complete hematologic response on nilotinib treatment. Overall, 32% of patients achieved major cytogenetic responses (MCyR), with most being complete cytogenetic responses. Responses were durable, with 66% of patients maintaining MCyR at 24 months. The estimated overall and progression-free survival rates at 24 months were 70% and 33%, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were each observed in 42% of patients. Non-hematologic adverse events were mostly mild to moderate; the safety profile of nilotinib has not changed with longer follow-up. In all, 20 (15%) patients remained on study at data cutoff. In summary, nilotinib has a manageable safety profile, and can provide favorable long-term outcomes in the pretreated CML-AP patient population for whom treatment options are limited.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Benzamides
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Accelerated Phase / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Accelerated Phase / pathology
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic-Phase / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / adverse effects*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines / adverse effects*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • nilotinib