Complete molecular remission in a patient with Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute myeloid leukemia after conventional therapy and imatinib

Haematologica. 2004 May 1;89(5):ECR15. Print 2004 May.

Abstract

Philadelphia-chromosome (Ph)-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rare and prognosis is poor with a median survival of six to seven months only. We report on a patient with Ph-positive AML (FAB M2, major BCR/ABL1 mRNA transcript, b2a2), who is in sustained complete cytogenetic and molecular remission for 15 months. Cytarabine-based chemotherapy was discontinued after two courses due to infectious complications. Since the b2a2 transcript was still detectable, imatinib was started with quantitative RT-PCR monitoring. This result is promising and worth further evaluation to establish the role of imatinib in patients with Ph-positive AML.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Benzamides
  • Female
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Genes, abl / genetics
  • Humans
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr / genetics
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Remission Induction

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Piperazines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Imatinib Mesylate
  • BCR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcr